ever quite optional,
and admits of great latitude; neither is there any compulsion
in the master. I have known instances of a slave being
liberated after a few years of servitude; and his master's
confidence has been such that he has advanced him money to
trade with, and has allowed him to cross the desert to
Timbuctoo, waiting for the repayment of his money till his
return. This is often the treatment of Muhamedans to slaves!
how different from that practised by the Planters in the West
India Islands!!!]
18
SUCCESSION TO PROPERTY.

Upon the decease of a native, the first claim is that of his
creditors; the next is that of his widow, who is entitled to the
dower[34] promised by her husband to her father, if, not already
paid, and to one-eighth of the remainder; the rest is divided among
the children. A son's share is double that of a daughter. If they
agree, the land may be sold, if not, it must be divided as above.
Of lands and houses, nothing is sold till the children arrive at
the age of discretion; when each is entitled to his share, the rest
being unsold till the others are of age in turn. This age is not
19 fixed at so many years, but the period of discretion is determined
by the relations, upon oath, before a magistrate: there is hardly
any man that knows his own age. The father may dispose of his
property by will, as far as regards the property of his children,
but he cannot divest his wife of her rights; if a wife dies without
a will, her children succeed. Wills are not written; the guardian
appointed by the father takes care of the property of the deceased,
and employs in trade, and lends out the money for the benefit of
his children. Relations succeed if there are no children; and if
there are no relations, the king takes all but the wife's share.
The wife's relations are not considered as the husband's relations.
Children of concubines inherit equally with those of the wife. If a
man have two children by a concubine, she becomes free at his
death, otherwise she remains a slave. She is entitled, having
children, to an eighth of the property.

[Footnote 34: The husband always stipulates to pay the father
of his wife a certain sum: this is the Muhamedan dower.]

MARRIAGE.

A man