228 Sir Joun D’Oyty’s Sketch of the 
criminal jurisdiction over all persons subject to their orders, and over no 
others. 
They can hear and decide all civil cases arising amongst them, or in which 
any such person is defendant, without limitation of value. 
They can dispossess of land, and give a written walloor addressed to the 
head men, reciting the decision, and ordering possession to be delivered to 
another, but can on no account grant sifta or watteraof decision with their 
signature, or dewe sitta in the upper districts, nor administer any oath in 
Kandy ; but the principals of the temples in Kandy can give sitta of decision 
and dewe sitla in cases arising in villages belonging to their respective temples 
which are situated in the desavonies. 
They can hear and decide all criminal cases, with the exception of the 
high crimes above enumerated ; but they usually represent to the Adikars 
other offences of some atrocity, and those of less importance than the 
Desaves would decide, because, occurring in the vicinity of Kandy, the trans- 
action cannot escape publicity; and because, being of inferior rank and 
weight, and standing under the eye and control of superior authority, 
these chiefs are diffident of their ability, and fearful of incurring displeasure 
or giving offence by an erroneous judgment. 
They can award corporal punishment (except with the cane), imprison- 
ment, and fine, without fixed limit, against persons subject to their juris- 
diction, paying regard to their respective rank and conditions. 
Corporal punishment is not inflicted by them on the principal head men, 
Korales, and Aratchies, except on occasions of urgent public service, or for 
great offences, with open hand, nor on the principal officers of the temples. 
Ordinary Vellales are punished by them with the open hand, and persons 
of low caste with rods, excepting properly the J/aha Lekam’s people. 
But when the Lekam people, and all other inhabitants of a district, are 
temporarily placed under the Rate Mahatmeya, for the performance of some 
urgent public service within it, they have of late years punished Maha 
Lekam people with the open hand, and the other common Vell/ales with rods. 
They can imprison any of the headmen abovementioned, or any other 
persons, in the Maha Hirage, or in their own houses, and impose any mode- 
rate fine, upon payment of which they are usually released. 
It is said that former kings prohibited any fine exceeding seven ridi and 
a half to be levied in the upper districts. ‘This order has long since fallen 
into disuse. 
