182 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
who, being much in his power, and from exam- 
ple and habit of a crouching mean disposition, 
in all cases where his Majesty's interest is con- 
cerned, decide in his favour. 
The revenues, which are solely the property 
of the King, at least wholly at his disposal, are 
considerable, and consist in a tenth of all agri- 
cultural produce, and a custom or duty paid by 
the travelling merchants who pass through the 
country. This latter amounts to seven bottles 
of gunpowder, and one trade musket, or their 
value in other articles, for each ass load of Eu- 
ropean goods ; and must be accompanied by a 
present to the king and his head men. A refusal 
on the part of any of those merchants to com- 
ply with the exorbitant demands of these people, 
would inevitably lead to their being plundered, 
and probably to personal ill treatment. This, 
however, seldom takes place, as those merchants 
always endeavour, by some means or other, to 
conceal the most valuable part of their goods, 
either about their persons or in the house of 
their host, (whom it is also necessary to bribe) 
before they entrust the remainder to the inspec- 
tion of the people appointed by the king for 
that purpose. 
He derives also considerable emolument from 
a tenth of the salt imported from the coast by 
the natives of the country, and from an annual 
