RESIDENCE AT SOCCATOO AND MAGARIA. 
215 
town, at some distance from that where their parents reside, to re- 
ceive their education ; in which case they usually reside in the house 
of a friend, and amalem or man of learning attends them. Those 
of the middle and lower classes generally send their children to the 
schools, which they attend for an hour at day-break, and another 
at sunset, reading their Arabic lessons aloud and simultaneously. 
They are required to get their lessons by heart before the writing 
is washed off* the board on which it is written. The ink thus di- 
luted is drank by the scholars, when their master writes a new 
lesson on the board. 
The government of the Fellatas in Soudan is in its infancy; 
but, as it now exists, and is likely to continue, is a perfect despot- 
ism. It was left by will to Mahomed Bello, who was the eldest oi 
Sheik Othmaids sons, and is meant to descend to his eldest son 
at his death. The governors of the different provinces are ap- 
pointed during pleasure, as, in the event of any improper conduct, 
they are displaced ; and all their property, at their death or re- 
moval, falls to the sultan. The appointment to a vacancy is then 
sold to the highest bidder, who is generally a near relation, pro- 
vided his property is sufficient to bid up to the mark. All the 
inferior offices in the towns of the provinces are sold in like manner 
by the governors, who also succeed to the property of those petty 
officers at their death or removal. 
Of their revenues I can say very little. I only know that in 
the province of Kano they have no regular system of taxation. A 
great deal of marketable property is claimed by the governor, such 
as two-thirds of the produce of all the date and other fruit trees, 
the proprietor being allowed only the remaining third. A small 
duty is also levied on every article sold in the market ; or, in lieu 
thereof, a certain rent is paid for the stall or shed : a duty is also 
fixed on every tobe that is dyed blue and sold. On grain there is 
no duty. Kano produces the greatest revenue which the sultan 
