56 WIFE MURDER. 



was lighted, and the accused, having his legs 

 encased in green plantain leaves, had to pass 

 from end to end through the flames, his escape 

 without injury being held as proof of his in- 

 nocence. 



The lifting of red-hot iron was also deemed 

 a satisfactory proof of the same. 



The shaving off of beards and parading a 

 criminal on an ass, face to the tail, are punish- 

 ments sanctioned to repress immorality in both 

 sexes. 



Murder in most cases arises from the in- 

 fidelity or supposed infidelity of the wives or 

 other near female relations of the murderers. 

 Notwithstanding the strong warning of Sir 

 Charles Napier on the subject, the practice of 

 murdering women still prevails to a lamentable 

 extent even in the country under British rule, 

 and still more so, I am assured, in the Khyr- 

 poor territory. The way in which this is ef- 

 fected in the former districts is generally by 

 strangulation, the husband making it appear 

 that the unfortunate woman committed suicide. 

 In Sindli the females of a family are looked 

 upon as slaves. They are commonly sold by 

 their parents to the highest bidder, without the 



