this prohibition, uttered in ſo dictatorial a tone; for the Fiſcal ſeemed fully perſuaded that we durſt not be ſo raſh as to proceed any farther. We, however, after having repreſented to him that we could not poſſibly do any harm to his uncultivated ſtony grounds, purſued our route. The petty Vizier fell into a violent rage at ſeeing how little we minded his orders, and not being able to anſwer our remonſtrances, he told us in very bad French, that ſuch were his commands, and it required no further explanation.
Two negroes, who had accompanied us from the town, trembled at the ſound of the Fiſcal's voice, and it was with difficulty that we could perſuade them to remain with us: for they told us, whilſt they ſhuddered with horror, that this Monſieur Deneſs was the perſon who preſided at the whippings that were adminiſtered according to the orders of the officers of police.
It is a remarkable circumſtance that the Fiſcal is here inveſted with the charge of inſpection over all the ſervants of the Company, and holds his office independently of any other perſon. It ſeems ſtill more ſtrange that ſo important a truſt ſhould be committed to the hands of an officer of police, who is thus enabled to practiſe all the extortions for which his office affords him ſuch ample opportunities; for he it is who both fixes
the
