396 ON THE TRIAL 



conformable to the practice of the Company's Govern- 

 ment, and recommended an oath by the water of the 

 Ganges, and the leaves of tulafi, in a little vefTel ofbrafs, 

 or by the book Herivanja, or the (tone S digram, or by 

 the hallowed ponds or bafons; all which oaths are ufed 

 at Benares. When the parties obftinately refufed to try 

 the ifTue by any one of the modes recommended, and 

 infifted on a trial by the hot ball, the magiftrates and 

 Pandits of the court were ordered to gratify their withes; 

 and, fetting afide thofe forms of trial in which there 

 could be onlyadiftant fear of death, or lofs of property, 

 as the ju(t punifhrnent of perjury by the fure, yet flow, 

 judgment of heaven, to perform the ceremony of or- 

 deal agreeably to the Dherma Sajlra : but it was not 

 till after mature deliberation for four months, that a 

 regular mandate ifTued for trial by the red-hot ball ; 

 and this was at length granted for four reafons : firft, 

 becaufe there was no other way of condemning or ab- 

 solving the perfon accufed; fecondly, becaufe both 

 parties were Hindus, and this mode of trial was Specially 

 appointed in the Dherma Sajlra by the ancient law- 

 givers ; thirdly, becaufe this ordeal is praclifed in the 

 dominions of the Hindu Rajas ; and fourthly, becaufe it 

 might be ufeful to inquire how it was poffible for the 

 heat of fire to be refilled, and for the hand that held it 

 to avoid being burned. An order was accordingly fent 

 to the Pandits of the court, and of Benares, to this erFe£l : 

 64 Since the parties accuiing and accuied are both Hin- 

 Ci dus, and will not confent to any trial but that by the 

 " hot ball, let the ordeal defired be duly performed in 

 " the manner prescribed by the MitdcJIierd, or Com- 

 M mentary on Yagyawalcya" 



When preparations were made for the trial, this well- 

 wifher to mankind, attended by all the learned profef- 

 fors, by the officers of the court, the Sipdhis of Captain 

 Hogarfs battalion, and many inhabitants of Benares, 



went 



