48 Mr Maxwell’s Observations . 
Were it not for the numerous restrictions under which the 
King of Chirafooka labours, there would be nothing extraordi- 
nary in his having, as is confidently asserted, five hundred 
wives ; for polygamy prevails over almost all those portions of 
Africa with which we are acquainted. 
The titles of dignity under the King are, Macheila, — Makai, 
— - Mambooka, — Mamfooka, — Machainghe, — Mabaillie, — and 
Foomu. The two first of these belong to the presumptive heir 
of the Crown, and are therefore next to that of King, the 
highest dignities in the kingdom ; but Mambooka, the viceroy, 
having the command of the forces, or, rather, the privilege of 
assembling and employing armed men, (for regular troops 
they have none,) is by far the most powerful. Mamfooka, or 
Mafooka, as he is generally called, is collector of the customs ; 
which, if we may judge from the great interest and caballing, 
amounting sometimes to petty warfare, employed in canvassing 
for it, is a very lucrative post. Machainghe and Mabaillie are in- 
ferior officers to Mafooka, and of little note, except in conduct- 
ing the supplies of wood and water, for which they exact a 
small duty from the shipping. Machainghe has commonly a 
quantity of fire- wood ready cut, which he sells at a moderate 
price. It is mostly mangrove, which splits freely, and burns 
well, but at the same time emitting a very pungent smoke, 
which frequently brings on that very distressing and obstinate 
complaint, Ophthalmia. Foomu is the usual designation of 
Prince. 
It is impossible to understand, from a casual observance of 
their effects, the springs and movements of a government like 
this, so as to make the several parts bear upon each other, and 
exhibit that regularity of design which, to a certain extent, no 
doubt exists, and which might, with care and attention, be traced. 
However barbarous and uncivilised a nation may be, we gene- 
rally find, on minute inquiry, that the few have ever had suffi- 
cient ingenuity and address to systematize tyranny, and forge 
shackles for the minds, as well as for the bodies, of the many ; 
and in such a state of society, the multitude is a patient animal, 
which unresistingly yields its neck to the yoke. 
Burials . — In Angoya and Chirafooka, when a great man 
dies, his remains are kept in state for a period proportioned to 
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