Constitution of the Kandyan Kingdom. 241 
Elephant Slaughter in the Upper Districts, and the Province contiguous 
to Kandy. 
All elephants are considered the property of the crown, and they are 
employed in the King’s service, for his recreation, at public festivals. Hence 
the slaughter of them, especially of tusked and large elephants, is reckoned 
amongst the most heinous offences. 
It was usually punished by whipping through the streets of Kandy, and 
imprisonment in a distant province. 
But if the elephants be small and of little value, by slighter corporal 
punishment, and imprisonment in Kandy. 
In the districts surrounding Kandy, independently of this punishment, 
the Kurwwe people of Kengallehad a right to plunder the house and premises, 
and appropriate to themselves all the paddy and other moveable property 
of the offender. 
Hunting and killing of Animals. 
This practice was declared unlawful in the upper districts within the 
last fifty or sixty years, on the ground of being contrary to the precepts of 
religion ; and in some instances was punished by whipping through the 
streets of Kandy, and imprisonment in a distant village. In other cases 
which came under the cognizance of the chiefs, the transgressors escaped 
with slighter corporal punishment, or imprisonment and fine. 
The practice, however, was continued in secret, and was in fact connived 
at by the Kandyan chiefs, to whom a portion of the slain animal was usually 
presented, in neglect of which the hunter subjected himself to the penalty. 
Huniyam. 
This is a species of sorcery, and was held in general abhorrence. 
It consists in making an image or delineating a figure to represent an 
enemy, or in writing his name, and using diabolical arts, ceremonies, and 
imprecations, whereby it is believed that skilful persons have the power of 
occasioning his death, sickness, or some heavy calamity. 
It is said that in the reign of Narenprasinue several persons suffered 
executions for this crime, and that their lands were confiscated or de- 
livered to the injured party. In the reign of the King Kirrent, five 
persons suffered execution for having practised this sorcery against the 
King, as an act of treason. 
Fy Me 
