HILLS NEAR RA'JAMAHALL. 85 



and extent of his crime. On these occasions the fines 

 were heavy, to deter others from committing similar 

 offences. 



When a chief had killed a poor man, the officers 

 of his own village, and those of a neighbouring vil- 

 lage, were assembled, with some sage old men for 

 the trial. Should the fact be established, the rela- 

 tions of the deceased might refuse a commutation 

 for the blood of the murderer ; in which case he was 

 delivered up to them to be put to death, and his 

 kinsmen had to pay the expences of the trial. The 

 ransom was in general ten or twelve score of ru- 

 pees ; but the relations of the deceased had the op- 

 tion of remitting the fine, and of pardoning the mur- 

 derer. 



All applications to a chief to apprehend any 

 person in a civil cause, and to appoint judges for a 

 trial, are accompanied with a fee; snd any person 

 borrowing money for that purpose, is compelled to 

 pay two rupees for every on£ so borrowed, at the 

 issue of the suit, whether he gains it or not. 



A chief has no more right to strike a poor man 

 than the latter has to strike him : the crime and 

 punishment in either case is equal. Should a chief 

 without provocation strike a poor man and draw 

 blood, the latter complains to the Cutwal, who 

 with the Vhojedar^ and some old men, being assem- 

 bled, and having heard the complainant, they depute 

 an agent to their chief, to require him to answer the 

 charge ; which being acknowledged, the agent re- 

 turns, and informs the court that the offender con- 



G 3 fesses 



