The Administration Of Criminal Justice, As Far As I Had
Opportunities Of Observing, Was Prompt And Decisive:
For although
civil rights were but little regarded in Ludamar, it was necessary
when crimes were committed that examples
Should sometimes be made.
On such occasions the offender was brought before Ali, who
pronounced, of his sole authority, what judgment he thought proper.
But I understood that capital punishment was seldom or never
inflicted, except on the negroes.
Although the wealth of the Moors consists chiefly in their numerous
herds of cattle, yet, as the pastoral life does not afford full
employment, the majority of the people are perfectly idle, and spend
the day in trifling conversation about their horses, or in laying
schemes of depredation on the negro villages.
Of the number of Ali's Moorish subjects I had no means of forming a
correct estimate. The military strength of Ludamar consists in
cavalry. They are well mounted, and appear to be very expert in
skirmishing and attacking by surprise. Every soldier furnishes his
own horse, and finds his accoutrements, consisting of a large sabre,
a double-barrelled gun, a small red leather bag for holding his
balls, and a powder bag slung over the shoulder. He has no pay, nor
any remuneration but what arises from plunder. This body is not
very numerous; for when Ali made war upon Bambarra I was informed
that his whole force did not exceed two thousand cavalry. They
constitute, however, by what I could learn, but a very small
proportion of his Moorish subjects.
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