RY ORDEAL. 399 



A Brahman, named RlJJiifwara Bhatfa, accufed one 

 Rdmdaydl, a linen painter, of having ftolen his goods. 

 Rdmdaydl pleaded not guilty; and, after much alter- 

 cation, confented to be tried, as it had been propofed, 

 by the veffel of oil. This well-wifher to mankind 

 advifed the Pandits of the court to prevent, if poflfi- 

 ble, that mode of trial ; but fince the parties infilled 

 on it, an ordeal by hot oil, according to the Sajlra, 

 was awarded for the fame reafons which prevailed in 

 regard to the trial by the ball. The Pandits, who 

 a (lifted at the ceremony, were BhiJJima Bhatta, 

 Ndndpdfhac, Manirdma Pdfhaca, Mcnirdma Bhatta, 

 Siva, Anantrdma Bhatta, Cripdrdma, Vi/Iinuheri, 

 Cri/hnachandra, Rdmendra, Govindardma, Hericrifhna 

 Bhat'a, Cdliddfa : The three laft were Pandits of 

 the court. When Ganefa had been worfhipped, and 

 the hc'ma prefented, according to the Sdjlra, they fent 

 for this well-wifher to mankind; who, attended by 

 the two Ddroghas of the Divdni and Faujddri courts, 

 the Cotwdl of the town, the other officers of the 

 court, and mod of the inhabitants of Benares, went to 

 the place of trial ; where he laboured to diffuade Rdm- 

 daydl, and his father, from fubmitting to the ordeal ; 

 and appnled them, that if the hand of the accufed 

 fhould be burned, he would be compelled to pay the 

 value of the goods ftolen, and his character would be 

 difgraced in every company. Rdmdaydl would not 

 defili : he thruft his hand into the veffel, and was 

 burned. The opinion of the Pandits was then taken; 

 and they were unanimous, that, by the burning of his 

 hand, his guilt was eftablifhed, and he bound to pay 

 RiJJiifwara Bliatta the price of what he had ftolen; 

 but it the fum exceeded five hundred ajlirafis, his 

 hand mutt be cut off by an e'xptefs law in the Sdjira ; 

 and a mulct aifo mult be linpoted on him according to 

 his circumftances. 



The ch-ief magiftrate, therefore, caufed Rdmdaydl 

 to pay Rijhifwara fevui hundred rupees in return tor 



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