520 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [vor 48 
have been cases in which the litigants, not satished with the sen- 
tence pronounced by their chief, appealed to the supreme tribunal 
at which presides the masicampo and from which there is no ap- 
peal. This chief and the nobles possess certain life privileges. They 
are not ostentatious and do not have the manner of the wise and 
high dignitaries of the Moros, whom it is not possible to approach 
and to whom it is not allowed to speak without kneeling, bowing 
the head, and kissing the feet scarcely daring to face the interlocutor. 
On the contrary the masicampo, when he has to decide a question, 
speaks gently to the defendant and complainant, commands them 
to be seated before him and the nobles who compose the court, 
listens attentively to the complaints of each one and after due con- 
sideration of the question, pronounces sentence in conformity with 
the nobles, the old men, and the plebeian class who are present. 
The litigants receive the judgment with great humility and mild- 
ness worthy of their character. 
The punishment, or penalty generally imposed upon the guilty, 
consists of fines and reimbursement known as bandi towards the in- 
jured party. This payment is made by giving to him a certain num- 
ber of large plates of metal, known as talam, various kinds of musi- 
cal instruments, all of metal, and some earthen jars of different 
shapes and sizes, the value of which is in proportion to the size. All 
these objects are admissible by the court in order to cover the fines 
of the accused. 
Corporal punishment rarely takes place. This occurs only when 
the nature of the crime is such as not to admit of any other less 
mild and lenient. The chief of the tribes and those who are a part 
of the court endeavor as far as possible to lessen the criminal liability 
of the delinquent in order that as light a punishment as possible 
may be imposed upon him. If at times during the session of this 
court there be present in the rancheria a stranger of some importance 
the chief will invite him to take part in the council, giving him the 
power of speech and a vote and not infrequently will consult his 
opinion. 
CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT 
In this tribe are recognized only three classes of crime: 
1. Incestuous marriage or union. 
2. Murder. 
3. Robbery. 
The incestuous union of father and daughter, of son and mother, 
of brother and sister, and of first cousins is the most serious of all 
