The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-07

maries." The syphogrants vote for the
prince by secret ballot, so that no one
knows for whom they give their suf-
frage-but 1t must be for one of the
four candidates suggested. The prince
is elected for life, but can be impeached
IL he is suspected of forming a design
to take away the liberties of the peo-
pie. The tranbores, or archphilarchs,
are elected every year, but generally
they are reelected from year to year
as long as their health or age will per-
NIT of their attending well to their bus
mess, or till such time as they may
prove unworthy or incompetent in any
thing. All the other magistrates are
elected for one year only.
The tranibores meet every third day
oftener If the public business requires it
and consult with the prince concerning
the affairs of state or about such pri-
vate differences as may arise among the
people-though the latter fall out but
seldom. There are always two sypho-
grants called to the council chamber,
and these two are changed every day. 1t
is a fundamental rule of the government
that no decision on a public matter can
be made until 1t has first been debated
three days in the council composed of the
prince, the tranbores and the two sypho-
grants on duty on those days.
When anything of great public impor-
lance is on foot the matter is first re-
ferred to the syphogrants, who commun-
icate 1t to the heads Of the families over
which they are stationed. The families
consider it and advise the syphogrant Of
their conclusions. Then the syphogrants
meet together and discuss it, together
with the opinions they have received in
regard to the matter from their families.
Then the syphogrants make a report to
the senate. or council of tranibores,
which, with the prince, decides upon the
matter. Sometimes, when the matter is
of unusual Importance, a great council
of the freemen of the whole island is
called and the matter decided by them
When a matter is introduced into the
council, or senate, it is fast rule not
only that 1t must be debated three days,
but that it must not be debated on the
day on which it is introduced.
This is in order that men may not
rashly commit themselves to one side
of a question and then, for fear of ad-
hitting that they were mistaken or from
sheer obstinacy, hazard the welfare OF
the country rather than recede from the
position which they had at first assumed
upon the subject and be suspected OF
a want of foresight in the first views
they presented. And to prevent this they
take care to be rather deliberate thar
sudden In their motions.
Agriculture is that which is so uni
yersally understood among them that ne
person, either man or woman, is ignor
ant of IT, From their childhood they
are instructed in 1t. partly by what they
learn at school and partly by practice
they being led out often into the fields
about the towns. where they not onl,
see others at work, but are likewise ex
ercised in 1t themselves. Besides agri
culture, which is common to all, ever,
man has some particular trade to which
he applies himself; such as the manu-
facture Of goods of wooden or fax. ma
sonry, smiths work or carpenters work
| All over the island the people wear tn,
same sort of clothes, without any dis
tinction except that which is necessary
for marking the differences Of the sexe
and the married and the unmarried. Thi
fashion never alters and, as 1t is no
ungraceful. not uneasy, SO 1t is fitted To-
their climate and calculated both for thu