116 
FILATAH EXACTIONS. 
tribute to the Filatahs about ten years. The Attah, 
although possessing full power over the Kakandas, 
limits his annual exactions to a low rate. A horse is 
all that is demanded ; a tribute so small as to seem, 
surely, more for the purpose of keeping up authority, 
than for exercising the power it might entitle the Attah 
to. The same small tribute is paid at Gori, one of 
the great markets; more has never been paid, other- 
wise it might have been supposed that the Attah had 
of late deemed it prudent to accept any acknowledg- 
ment of allegiance from people a long way from him, 
and under such fearful subjugation to another power, 
which even menaces himself, namely the Filatahs. 
These inexorable foes paid them a visit three moons 
since, but they then gave them a sum, and pro- 
mised, in conjunction with the people of Rikido'^^ on 
the opposite bank, to pay one hundred thousand 
cowries annually. Now, so long as they can afford 
this, the Filatahs will leave them unmolested, but if 
they fail to have it ready at the stated period, then 
they will take people in lieu thereof. The resources 
of the Kakanda people are at present insufficient to 
insure a constant supply for their exactions, and if 
money be not forthcoming, slaves must be made. 
Hence, so long as Filatah power continues, slavery 
* Fire-arms are used by the Filatalis ; each has his musket. 
They have also spears and swords, bows and arrows, deadly poisoned. 
In their predatory excursions they are generally on horseback. 
