a kingdom of Africa, bordering on the river Gambia, inhabited by a tribe of negroes called Faloffs. The government of this kingdom is a most despotic monarchy; all people being obliged to prostrate themselves on the earth when any of the royal family makes his appearance. In time of war, every soldier has his share of the booty, and the king but a certain proportion, which is moderate, considering that if he pleased he might keep the whole. The kingdom is divided into a number of provinces, over which governors called bumseys are appointed by the king. These bumseys are absolute within their jurisdictions; but they seldom carry their prerogative so far as to incur the dislike of the people, which would quickly prove fatal to them. The Mahometan religion is professed by the king and his court; though little regard is paid to that part of the impostor's creed which forbids the use of wine; for the king cannot live without brandy, nor is he ever more devout than when he is drunk. When his majesty is in want of brandy or other necessaries, he sends to beg of the governor of Jamesfort that he will dispatch a boat with the merchandise he has occasion for; and to purchase this he plunders the neighbouring towns, and seizes a certain number of his subjects whom he sells for slaves to the Europeans in exchange for their commodities. This is his method of supplying himself if he happens to be at peace with his neighbours; for which reason the people are never so happy as when at war; and hence they pursue war with great vigour, and continue it with obstinacy.

The general dress of the people is a kind of loose calico surplice, that hangs down below the knee; which they sometimes plait about the waist in a very agreeable manner. They wear a great number of gold trinkets in their hair, ears, noses, and round their necks, arms, and legs; but the women especially are fond of these ornaments. The king of Barfalli, whom Moore saw in 1732, had a prodigious number of women: but when he went abroad he was seldom attended by more than two, who seemed to be dressed out in the whole finery and jewels of the seraglio. He had likewise a number of brethren; but it was seldom that he deigned to speak to them: if ever he did them that honour, they were forced to treat him with the same respect as other subjects, and fall prostrate on the earth the moment they came into his presence, notwithstanding they were the presumptive heirs of the crown. It is indeed usual for the king's children to dispute the right of succession with his brethren, and the longest sword generally carries away the prize.