CUSTOMS. 
293 
length of his beard. A large quantitj of palm wine is dashed to 
the retinues of all the captains attending in the course of the day ; 
much is expended in the almost dail}' ceremony of drinking it in 
state in the market place ; and our party was alv/ays well provided 
for in the course of the evening. The palm wine at the palace 
was seldom good, but a zest was excited by the exquisite polish of 
the plate in which it was served. Apokoo, Odumata, and others, 
sent us some daily that was excellent. 
It is to be observed that the King's weights are one third heavier 
than the current weights of the country ; and all the gold expended 
in provision being weighed out in the former, and laid out in the 
latter, the difference enriches the chamberlain, cook, and chief 
domestic officers of the palace^ as it is thought derogatory to a 
King avowedly to pay his subjects for their services. In the same 
manner the linguists derive the greater part of their incomes, (their 
influence being occasionally purchased,) for all the dashes or 
presents of gold the King makes in the year, are weighed out by 
the royal weights, and re-weighed by them in the current ones. 
The law allows a debtor to recover of a reluctant or tardy creditor, 
in the King's weights, besides the interest, (noticed in the laws,) if 
he is esteemed enough by Apokoo the treasurer, to be trusted with 
them ; or rather, if he can afford to bribe him, or engages to share 
the profit with him. 
After a subject is executed for crime, the body and head are 
carried out of town by some of the King's slaves, appointed for 
that purpose, and thrown where the wild beasts may devour them ; 
but if the deceased be of any consequence, some of his friends 
conceal themselves near where they know the body will be carried, 
and purchase it, and the right of burial, of these domestics, gene- 
rally for eight ackies. There are a number of line large sheep, 
decorated with bells and other ornaments, about the palace. If 
