§6 
VOYAGE TO SENEGAL. 
Tn 1 787 the chief of Sierra Leone had no other title than the 
«ne last mentioned. He, however, reigned more than ten years: 
his subjects, who loved him, wished to proclaim him king; but 
the wsie Negro refused that honour, and contented himself with 
power without ostentation. 
The revenues of such a king consist in certain duties and ia 
presents, which he receives from all who apply to him on sub- 
jects that come under his authority. These presents are pro- 
portionate to the means of the supplicant and the importance 
of the affair; the poor man gives but little; when, howeveir, 
the subject is serious,, a rich individual must not offer less than 
the value of a slave. His income also consists in the customs 
which foreigners pay for permission to trade, and these arc 
often considerable. 
The marks and attributes of royalty are elephants' tails, car- 
ried before the sovereigns, who generally walk with gold or sil- 
Ter-headed canes, and gold-laced hats, which they procure from 
the Europeans. 
The executive power and the right of passing a final judgment 
are vested in the king ; nevertheless the chief of each village 
considers himself as its master and only magistrate. The king 
merely invites these chiefs together, and decides in full council 
cn such points as have been separately determined. 
The parents of a deceased king or chief do not enjoy the pri- 
\4îege of being distinguished from their countrymen. Each 
of them exercises his own pofession; and it is not rare to see 
the son of a kiiig reduced, after the death of his father, to hire 
himself to Europeans as a common sailor, in order to procure 
tlie meaîis of subsistence. 
The Negroes have no other claim to the lands than present 
posseï>sion. When a cultivator quits any spot, the first comer 
establishes himself upon it; his only qualification being, that 
he belongs to the same tribe. 7 his is a point of which they are 
extrevnely jealous, as they will not suffer a stranger to settle 
amongst them without their consent. I'heir laws, which are 
transmitted merely by tradition, are nothing but the ancient eus- 
toms of the country, and differ slightly in various states. The 
king, assisted by the chiefs, decides on every thing in a Burree, 
m public audience, which is attended by people C'Â\eà palaver^ 
ti^ikers, who act as eoimseliors, and discuss the claims of the 
paities. 
Their debates are in general determined equitably, according 
to the proofs which are brought forward; particularly v»'hen the 
case is between persons of equal station. But here, as else- 
•#here, the v/eaker is often the victim of the istronger party; auti 
