COMMUNICATIONS. 
149 
fuch of his brothers as have reached the age of manhood prof- 
trate themfelves at his feet, and in rifing prefs his hands to their 
lips — the two ceremonies that conftitute the declaration of alle- 
giance* 
If any doubt of their fmcerity faggefls itfelf to the King or to 
the Elders, death or perpetual imprifonment removes the fear ; 
but if no fufpicion arifes, an eftablifliment of lands and cattle 
from the poffefiions of their father, together with prefents of 
flaves from the reigning monarch, are liberally beflowed upon them. 
Often, however, the moft popular, or the mod: ambitious of 
the rejeaed Princes, covering his defigns with clofe diffimu- 
lation, and the zeal of feeming attachment, creates a powerful 
party; andaffured of Foreign aid, prepares, in fecret, the means 
of fuccefsful revoh. But, ftained with fuch kindred blood, the 
fceptre of the vidorious Rebel is not laftingly fecure — one revo- 
lution invites and facilitates another ; and till the fiaughter of 
the field, the fword of the executioner, or the knife of the alTaf- 
iin has. left him without a brother, the throne of the Sovereign 
IS feldom firmly ellablillied* 
Such, in the Mahometan empires of Bornou and of CailHia^ 
. . is 
