called bushreens, and the pagans, who are called indiscriminately
kafirs (unbelievers) and sonakies (i.e., men who drink strong
liquors). The pagan natives are by far the most numerous, and the
government of the country is in their hands; for though the most
respectable among the bushreens are frequently consulted in affairs
of importance, yet they are never permitted to take any share in the
executive government, which rests solely in the hands of the mansa,
or sovereign, and great officers of the state. Of these, the first
in point of rank is the presumptive heir of the crown, who is called
the farbanna. Next to him are the alkaids, or provincial governors,
who are more frequently called keamos. Then follow the two grand
divisions of free-men and slaves; of the former, the slatees, so
frequently mentioned in the preceding pages, are considered as the
principal; but, in all classes, great respect is paid to the
authority of aged men.

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