On The Death Of The Reigning Monarch, His Eldest Son (If He Has
Attained The Age Of Manhood) Succeeds To The Regal Authority.
If
there is no son, or if the son is under the age of discretion, a
meeting of the
Great men is held, and the late monarch's nearest
relation (commonly his brother) is called to the government, not as
regent, or guardian to the infant son, but in full right, and to the
exclusion of the minor. The charges of the government are defrayed
by occasional tributes from the people, and by duties on goods
transported across the country. Travellers, on going from the
Gambia towards the interior, pay customs in European merchandise.
On returning, they pay in iron and shea-toulou. These taxes are
paid at every town.
Medina, the capital of the kingdom, at which I was now arrived, is a
place of considerable extent, and may contain from eight hundred to
one thousand houses. It is fortified in the common African manner,
by a surrounding high wall built of clay, and an outward fence of
pointed stakes and prickly bushes; but the walls are neglected, and
the outward fence has suffered considerably from the active hands of
busy housewives, who pluck up the stakes for firewood. I obtained a
lodging at one of the king's near relations, who apprised me that at
my introduction to the king I must not presume to SHAKE HANDS WITH
HIM. "It was not usual," he said, "to allow this liberty to
strangers." Thus instructed, I went in the afternoon to pay my
respects to the sovereign, and ask permission to pass through his
territories to Bondou. The king's name was Jatta. He was the same
venerable old man of whom so favourable an account was transmitted
by Major Houghton. I found him seated upon a mat before the door of
his hut; a number of men and women were arranged on each side, who
were singing and clapping their hands. I saluted him respectfully,
and informed him of the purport of my visit. The king graciously
replied, that he not only gave me leave to pass through his country,
but would offer up his prayers for my safety. On this, one of my
attendants, seemingly in return for the king's condescension, began
to sing, or rather to roar an Arabic song, at every pause of which
the king himself, and all the people present, struck their hands
against their foreheads, and exclaimed, with devout and affecting
solemnity, "Amen, amen!" The king told me, furthermore, that I
should have a guide the day following, who would conduct me safely
to the frontier of his kingdom - I then took my leave, and in the
evening sent the king an order upon Dr. Laidley for three gallons of
rum, and received in return great store of provisions.
December 6. - Early in the morning I went to the king a second time,
to learn if the guide was ready. I found his Majesty seated upon a
bullock's hide, warming himself before a large fire, for the
Africans are sensible of the smallest variation in the temperature
of the air, and frequently complain of cold when a European is
oppressed with heat.
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