^84* DISCOVERIES OF THE FRENCH. 
without a moment's delay. Few crimes are pu- 
nished with death, but most by what is here term- 
ed banishment, which, when explained, proves to 
be, the selling him to the French company, and 
taking possession of his effects. The insolvent 
debtor is sold with his whole family — the king 
drawing a third of the price. 
The king being now incommoded by the mul- 
tiplication of the species of fly peculiar to this 
country, determined to remove to another part of 
his dominions, where he would escape that annoy- 
ance. Our traveller, therefore, took a friendly 
leave ; and before his departure had an opportu- 
nity of observing the order of the royal march. 
The advanced guard consisted of a hundred and 
sixty horsemen, with different species of trumpets 
and timbrels, which made a noise extremely loud, 
but destitute of any species of harmony. The 
queens and princesses next followed, mounted on 
camels, two on each, and so completely enclosed 
in large osier baskets, that no part of them was 
seen except the head. The female attendants, 
mounted on asses, rode by the side of their mis- 
tresses, and endeavoured to amuse them by con- 
stant talking. All this gay train, as they passed, 
saluted the Director, and wished him a prosper- 
ous voyage. They were followed by a long caval- 
cade of camels and asses, carrying the baggage ; 
then by three hundred horsemen, behind whom 
