OF THIE MosquITO INDIANS. 185
 one of the next persons in point of conie-
 quence to the royal family, and who oa-
 trives to preserve a kind of regency.until
 the son. and heir of .the late king shall
 become; of age to take upon himself the
 business of government. The present
 king-is but a youth, and some years ago
 was sent to Jamaica to be educated under
 the direction and guidance of the Gover-
-nor of that island.
 The laws of these people are simple and
 concise. The legislative and judicial
 power, as it usually happens in nations
 where no Jxed principles of either have
 been acquired, resides exclusively in the
 will of him -who governs. The king, or
 chief, is completely despotic. Whenever
 he dispatches a messenger,, his commands
 are always accompanied by his cane: this
 token establishes the credibility of the bear-
 er, and a sudden compliance with the pur-
 port of his errand. In this way decrees
 are enforced, the punishment due to