Timbuctoo is governed by a native black, who has the title of
sultan. He is tributary to the sultan of Housa, and is chosen by
the inhabitants of Timbuctoo, who write to the king of Housa for
his approbation. Upon the death of a sultan, his eldest son is most
commonly chosen. The son of a concubine cannot inherit the throne;
if the king has no lawful son (son of his wife) at his decease, the
people choose his successor from among his relations. The sultan
has only one lawful wife, but keeps many concubines: the wife has a
separate house for herself, children, and slaves. He has no
particular establishment for his concubines, but takes any girl he
likes from among his slaves. His wife has the principal management
of his house. The sultan's palace is built in a corner of the city,
on the east; it occupies a large extent of ground within an
inclosure, which has a gate. Within this square are many buildings;
some for the officers of state. The king often sits in the gate to
administer justice, and to converse with his friends. There is a
13 small garden within it, furnishing a few flowers and vegetables for
his table; there is also a well, from which the water is drawn by a
wheel.[26] Many female slaves are musicians. The king has several
sons, who are appointed to administer justice to the natives.
Except the king's relations, there are no nobles nor any privileged
class of men as in Barbary[27]: those of the blood-royal are much
respected. The officers of state are distinguished by titles like
those of Marocco; one that answers to an Alkaid, _i. e._ a captain
of 700, of 500, or of 100 men; another like that of Bashaw. The
king, if he does not choose to marry one of his own relations,
takes a wife from the family of the chiefs of his council; his
daughters marry among the great men. The queen-dowager has
generally an independent provision, but cannot marry. The
concubines of a deceased king cannot marry, but are handsomely
provided for by his successor.
[Footnote 26: A wheel similar to the Persian wheel, worked by a
mule or an ass, having pots, which throw the water into a
trough as they pass round, which trough discharges the water
into the garden, and immerges the plants.]
[Footnote 27: The privileged class of men in Barbary, are the
Fakeers; but no one in Barbary is noble but the King's
relations, who are denominated shereefs.]