Constitution of the Kandyan Kingdom. 239 
Arson. 
Of arson I can hear of no case which was proved, but one instance of ma- 
liciously burning sheaves of paddy ; according to the general principle, the 
criminal would be sentenced to suffer severe corporal punishment and im- 
prisonment, and to make satisfaction for the property destroyed. 
Sacrilege. 
The instances of sacrilege within recollection are few, but the offences 
being reported to the King, were in general punished by whipping through 
the streets of Kandy and imprisonment. 
One instance of striking a priest was punished by amputation of the 
finger. 
Forgeries, false Coining, and uttering false Coin. 
There are three cases within memory of convictions for forging King’s 
sannasses, and a Desave’s sitta for land, and one for coining and uttering false 
pagodas. 
The offenders suffered severe corporal punishment, with the addition of 
imprisonment in two of the cases. 
In another case of uttering false coin, the culprit was an inhabitant of 
Colombo, and was delivered to the Dutch Ambassador. 
Adultery: 
The crime is strictly prohibited by the precepts of their religion, but 
below royalty, rarely meets with punishment from the chiefs. 
First, because the husband is ashamed to publish the disgrace to the 
world by complaint; and secondly, because he has the power of taking 
vengeance himself by beating, wounding, or even killing the man whom he 
finds in the same room with his wife, under such circumstances that adultery 
is presumable. 
Hence the seizure and punishment on the spot of the adulterer is gene- 
rally left to the injured husband. But when complaint is brought forward 
by him, that another maintains illicit intercourse with his wife, or frequents 
his house with that design, no proof of the fact is called for, but the accused 
is dismissed with reproof and threats; and perhaps, if evidence be adduced, 
with a slight corporal punishment, imprisonment, and fine. 
Vor. III. ap | 
