He Here Discourses Very
Affably On All Subjects With Those Around Him.
No business is transacted
with him, concerning affairs of state and government, or respecting war
and peace, but at
One or other of these two last-mentioned places,
where, after being publicly propounded and resolved upon, it is
registered by attendant secretaries, and any one, who has the curiosity,
may see the register for two shillings; insomuch that the common people
know as much of the affairs of state as the ministers and counsellors of
the king, and every day the king's acts and resolutions are circulated
as news, and are freely canvassed and censured by every rascal. This
course of proceeding is unchangeable, except when prevented by the
sickness of the king, or in consequence of his getting drunk, which must
always be known. Thus, though all his subjects are slaves, he lives in a
state of reciprocal bondage, being so tied to the observance of these
hours and customs, that if he were unseen one day, and no sufficient
excuse given, the people would mutiny; and no excuse will sanction his
absence for two days, unless the gates are opened, and he be seen by
some for the satisfaction of the rest. Every Tuesday, he sits in
judgement at the jarneo,[196] where he attends to the complaints of
his meanest subjects, listening patiently to both parties; and where
likewise he sometimes sees, with too much delight in blood, execution
performed on offenders by his elephants.
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