Moore gives us a history of some of these crimes. “There was a man, says he, brought to me in Tommany, to be sold, for having stolen a tobacco-pipe. I sent for the alcade, and with much ado persuaded the party aggrieved to accept of a composition, and leave the man free. In Cantore, a man seeing a tyger eating a deer, which he had killed and hung up near his house, fired at the tyger, and the bullet killed a man. The king not only condemned him, but also _his mother_, _three brothers_, and _three sisters_, to be sold. These eight persons were brought down to me at Yamyamacunda. It made my heart ache, says Moore (_for this was in the infancy of the Trade_) to see them, and I did not buy them.” But it appears in the sequel, that this kind action in Moore did not produce the desired end. “For they were sent, says he, further down the river, and sold to some _separate_ traders at Joar, and the king _had the benefit of the goods_ for which they were sold.” In estimating the revenues of king Forbana, he mentions[62] “the criminals that were sold, _a part of the profit_ of _which_ devolved _upon his majesty_.” [63] “In Africa, says he, crimes are punished either by fines, slavery, or death. _Offences_ are _rare_, but _accusations common_; because the chiefs frequently accuse for the purpose of _condemning_, that _they may be able to procure Slaves_.” “The crime of magic is that which the Negro kings and chiefs most frequently _cause_ to be preferred against individuals of the lower class, _because this crime is punished by slavery, and consequently produces Slaves_.” _Evidences examined before the House of Commons._ [Sidenote: House of Commons Evidence.] [64] Capt. Wilson, of the Royal Navy, says, it is universally acknowledged, and he believes it to be true, that free persons are sold for real or imputed crimes, for the benefit of their judges. Soon after his arrival at Goree, the king of Damel sent a free man to him for sale, and was to have the _price himself_. One of the king’s guards, who came with the man, on being asked whether he was guilty of the crime imputed to him, replied, with great shrewdness—he did not conceive that was ever inquired into, or of any consequence.