SIKHIM LAWS. 53 



80 times their value has to be given, a neighbour's things 9 times, 

 and a villager's 7 times. For taking a stranger's things 4 times. 



Beggars who steal from hunger have only to give back what they 

 took. 



Should one man accuse another falsely of stealing, he must give 

 him as compensation what he accused him of stealing. 



Should a man find anything on the road and without telling take 

 it for himself, he must be fined double its value ; but should he tell, he 

 receives one-third the value. Should any one recover stolen property, 

 but not be able to catch the thief, he receives half of the property 

 recovered. 



Should any one find a horse, any cattle, yaks or sheep and keep 

 them for a year without finding the owner, he receives one-fourth 

 the value, provided he has not in the meantime used the animals for 

 his own benefit. 



Should any one wound a thief he is not fined. 



If a thief whilst running away be killed by an arrow or stone, 

 a small fine only is taken. 



Should any one having caught a thief kill him, he is fined accord- 

 ing to the law of murder. The reward for catching a thief is from 

 1 to ooz. of gold, according to the amount of the property stolen. 



No. 13. — Disputes between near Relatives. Between Man 

 AND Wife and between Neighbours who have 



THINGS IN COMMON. 



If a husband wishes to be separated from his wife, he must pay her 

 from 18 zho, the amount varying in accordance with the length of 

 time they have been married. 



If the wife wishes to leave her husband, she must pay him 12 zho 

 and one suit of clothes. The wife on seioaration also receives the 

 clothes ffiven to her at her marriage, a list of which is always taken, 

 or its equivalent in money. 



Should there be children, the father takes the boys and the 

 mother the girls; the father jDajing from 5 to 15 zho for each son, 

 called the price of milk. If the woman has committed no fault, she 

 receives her ornaments. 



Should a fauiily wish to sej^arate, a list of the whole property 

 should be taken and divided according to circumstances. The father 

 and mother are asked with whom they would like to live, and if there 

 is any dispute about it, lots are drawn. The married children's 

 property is first separated from the rest, and if any children ai'e going 

 to school, their expenses must be taken from the whole before decision. 



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