Mr. Coi.EBROOKE on Hindu Courts of Justice. 17 1 



the s^udra's act is not void ; neither should it be deemed so in the case of 

 the assessoi'. 



§ 4. The Audience. 



Writers on Hindu law reckon the audience as a component part of a 

 court of justice ; for a bystander may interpose with his advice, as the 

 amicus curia' does in an European court. 



This part of the audience consists of persons qualified to sit in court as 

 assessors, being learned brdJiman'as, conversant with law ; not appointed 

 to be assessors, but attending the court of their own accord, or upon their 

 own affairs. Their interposition is not equally incumbent as it is on the 

 assessors ; nor is it called for, unless they possess such qualifications. 



A further part of the audience consists of persons attending the court to 

 maintain order, and prevent the intrusion of the populace. They should 

 be vais'yas, that is, persons of the third tribe, either merchants or 

 husbandmen. 



§ 5. The Domestic Priest, or Spiritual Adviser. 

 The king's domestic priest is regularly a member of the sovereign court 

 of judicature. His nomination is specifically for the one object, as much as 

 for the other : and it is his incumbent duty to check and restrain the king 

 from wrong proceedings, no less in judicial than in religious matters. The 

 nomination of one such priest being sufficient, no more than one is to be 

 appointed. He should be a brdhman'a, versed in science, faithful, disin- 

 terested, diligent and veracious. 



§ 6. Ministers of State. 

 The ministers of state attendant on the king, are reckoned among the 

 component members of the sovereign court ; or, the chief judge and the 

 assessors or councillors, being selected from among the king's ministers and 

 public servants, attend in those capacities, and are strictly members of the 

 court. 



§ 7- Officers of the Court. 

 The proper subordinate officers of the court are five, viz. 



1. Accountant; 



2. Scribe ; 



3. Keeper of claims and enforcer of judgments ; 



4. Messenger, or summoner of parties and witnesses ; 



5. Moderator of the court. 



Z 2 



