qf Candy. 
a precious stone, will either destroy or leave it where it lies, 
rather than subject himself to the trouble and expence of car- 
rying it to the royal residence. 
The principal revenues of the king consist of presents or 
contributions brought him by the people, or rather irregularly 
enforced by his officers, two or three times a year. These 
contributions consist of money, precious stones, ivory, cloth, 
corn, fruit, honey, wax, arms, and other articles of their own 
manufacture, such as spears, arrows, pikes, targets, talipot 
leaves, &c. 
Fear of the Europeans induces the king to practise the same 
policy as the dread of his rapacious officers produces among 
his subjects. He pretends on all occasions to be very poor, 
although it is well known that his treasury is well stored with 
various articles of great value. The presents which he made 
our government in return for some very valuable ones he re- 
ceived from us, were extremely poor indeed. 
The lower classes of the people, however, are not the only 
persons who feel the burden of supplying the royal treasury. 
Upon certain festivals, which he observes in great state, all the 
Mahondrews and principal people are obliged to appear before 
him, and none must come empty-handed. Before they are ad- 
mitted to the royal presence, they deposit their gifts at the 
palace gate, and are then received by the monarch according 
to the value of their offering. It is dangerous for them to 
keep back on these occasions, and the expected present is ne- 
cessary for the security both of their persons and property. 
The dackenie, or gift, is always wrapt up in a white cloth, 
and carried on the head of him who presents it, even were it 
no bigger than the size of a nut. A white cloth is parti- 
Nn 
