mr Browne's journey. 
409 
tised in other countries of Africa, as Bornou and 
Sennaar, where the king is always entitled Baudy, 
the peasant, from a similar custom. Herodotus 
has mentioned a similar practice of the ancient 
Egyptian kings, and travellers have related, that 
the same usage is continued by the Chinese mo- 
narchs. The king, or, as he is denominated, the 
Sultan of Darfur, reigns with absolute authority, 
and confers the same arbitrary power on his dele- 
gates in the provinces. Though the precepts of 
the^Koran are the ostensible rules of decision, in 
cases of litigation, yet the verdict depends on the 
will of the judge ; and, as none but ecclesiastics 
dare express their sentiments of his conduct, their 
opinion is the only check upon his caprice. These 
judges, however, display considerable ingenuity in 
developing the most intricate cases that occur in a 
nation versed in the arts of deceit. 
The sultan's revenues consist in the taxes upon 
merchandise exported and imported ; the annual 
tribute of live stock from the Arabs, and of corn 
from the towns and villages, with the amount of 
fines, forfeitures, and presents. The armies of 
Darfur are not numerous, as 4000 troops are 
reckoned a formidable number ; neither are these 
troops remarkable for skill, courage, or persever- 
ance, though they endure hunger, thirst, and fa- 
tigue, with great resolution, and use no other 
camp-equipage, but a light mat adapted to the size 
