ORDEAL OF FIRE AND WATER. 55 



trace of so many months previously, followed it 

 lip, and secm^ed the thief, who pleaded guilty. 

 It is said that a first-rate tracker never forgets 

 a foot-print he has once seen. 



Captain Marston, with a party of his police, 

 assisted by trackers, followed seven robbers at 

 the rate of fifty miles a day, came up with and 

 captured them, after a march of above 200 

 miles, with the stolen property in their pos- 

 session. 



The ordeal of fire and water was frequently 

 resorted to by the Ameers in the absence of 

 direct proof. In the latter ordeal the accused 

 was lowered into a well, placing his head under 

 water ; at the very moment, a strong man shot 

 an arrow as far as it would go, and another ran 

 to pick it up. If the accused could remain 

 under water till the arrow was brought back, 

 which was signalized by the shaking of a rope, 

 he was declared innocent ; but if he raised his 

 head a moment before that, he was pronounced 

 guilty. I have been shown a well at Khyr- 

 poor in which this ceremony is said to have 

 been performed not very many years ago. 



In the trial by fire a trench was dug, seven 

 cubits in length, and filled with firewood, which 



