Economy and justice

The king exacts the right of one dinar of gold on each donkey-load of salt that enters his country, and two dinars of gold on each load of salt that goes out. Duties are also laid on copper and other merchandise entering and leaving the empire. The best gold in the country comes from Ghiaru, a town situated 18 days’ journey from the capital.

All pieces of native gold found in the mines of the empire belong to the sovereign, although he lets the public have the gold dust that everybody knows about. Without this precaution, gold would become so abundant as practically to lose its value.

When a man is accused of denying a crime, a headman takes a thin piece of wood, which is sour and bitter to taste, and pours upon it some water which he then gives to the defendant to drink. If the man vomits, his innocence is recognized and he is congratulated. If he does not vomit and the drink remains in his stomach, the accusation is accepted as justified.