1894.] S. C. Das — Tibetan Jaih and Griyiiinal Punishment. 7 



In evciy serious case in which the Government becomes a 

 party, the court of the Kalnns (Ministers) suggests, to the Gyal- 

 tshah, (Regent) which is the highest court of the country, that 

 one of the three punishments mentioned in the decision may be 

 approved of. In a case of murder, dacoity, or high treasons 

 death by drowning, beheading, or strangling is suggested. In a less 

 heinous case, they suggest that the culprit may be blinded, or his 

 hands or legs mutilated. In a still less severe case, the cul23rit is re- 

 commended for imprisonment for life in a dark hole six feet square, called 

 the Po-go-itag-jar, i.e., the cell with but one hole, large enough to 

 throw food inside it ; or to be consigned to a prison for life in some re- 

 mote part of the country, after a collar of wooden board, about 18 inches 

 square has been fixed to his neck and chains put round his legs ; or to 

 brand his forehead with a burning seal of steel containing the name §J' 

 (dog), this punishment being called fS'S^T' or dog-seal. The Regent 



(Gyal-tshab) puts a red mark called Chyag-dags (g^'^ll'^N') sign 

 manual, or the kind of punishment he approves of, and the culprit is 

 dealt with accordingly. The Regent has not the jiower of mitigating 

 the sentence, or reversing it, or commiiting it, such powers lie with the 

 Dalai Lama himself, who can exercise his mercy on the convict. 



At Lhasa there are two principal jails, called the Nangtse-shar and 

 Dikiling. The former is situated in Lhasa Thil, the middle of the city, 

 and the latter at Potala Sho, i.e., the town at the foot of Potala, the resi- 

 dence of the Dalai Lama. Eight or nine yeai's ago the castle of Pand- 

 ing, about 100 yards fi'om Dikiling, where the mint is now located, was 

 the Jail. In the ground floor of the castle of Dikiling, which is now 

 the resideiice of the Lord Chancellor (Changoi-chenpo), there are several 

 lime godowns and cells, in some of which prisoners are confined. Some 

 of the cells are only six feet square, called Domhang dnh-ths, where 

 prisoners are confined before trial. 



Nang-tse shar is in fact the Chief Central Jail of Lhasa, where pri- 

 soners under trial are put to toi'ture. It is under the supervision of 



the Mipon [^"S^^j, the sheriff of Lhasa. The Government does not 

 provide the prisoners with food, but it does not object to food being sup- 

 plied to them by their relations, friends, and outsiders, who may take 

 pity on them. The J\Iussalman merchants and traders, both from China 

 and Kashmer, residing at Lhasa, generally send food and eatables to the 

 wretched starving prisoners of Nang-tse shar. Pious pilgrims who happen 

 to visit Lhasa, and religiously disj5osed people also send them food and 

 money occasionally. Some kind people, occasionally, offer to ransom 

 their lives by paying what is called the life-money or fine. 



