SKETCH OF GABOON. 
437 
expenses, and presents, en passant, handsomely, and there are 
many opportunities by which two officers might be sent from Cape 
Coast to Gaboon for the purpose, and by way of the islands, return 
to it. A man of war might convey them, and call for them, on her 
cruise. 
Kings are numerous in Gaboon, and scarcely comparable even 
with the petty caboceers of Fantee. The greatest trader, or the 
richest man of almost every small village assumes the title, and fre- 
quently suffers gross indignities from his subjects, from not having 
the power to punish them. The King of Naango seems of ac- 
knowledged superiority, and is comparatively respectable., both in 
means and power ; he is known to trading vessels by the name of 
King George. The brother succeeds before the son. The legis- 
lative and judicial power is vested in the Governor, controlled by 
the King, who may order the death of a man; but, if he assigns no 
good reason, the offensive party is generally allowed to retire else- 
where. All children share the property of the father in equal por- 
tions, except the eldest son, who has about half as much again as 
any other. If a man kills another, he has a pubhc trial ; and, if 
he cannot justify the act, which it seems he may in many instances, 
his own death is inevitable. If he kills one of his wives, (his rank 
is designated by the number,) he pays a fine to her family, who, 
and not the husband, are involved in all her palavers. The ac- 
knowledged heir to a property may bring a palaver against his 
father, or whoever may be possessor of it, for killing a slave un- 
justly, or otherwise injuring the property, and oblige him to make 
good the injury. 
A man may not look at, or converse with his mother-in-law, on 
pain of a heavy, perhaps a ruinous fine ; this singular law is 
founded on the tradition of an incest. It is a common custom to 
lend their wives to one another ; if a man evades a promise of this 
