316 PUNISHMENT OF THEFT. 



not being able to give, Jesus will then answer, 

 " Begone from hence, for I know none of thine." 



Most cases of theft, however, are not brought 

 before the Negoos at all, but before the go- 

 vernors of the towns in which the crime has 

 occurred, a summary kind of conviction takes 

 place, the stolen articles being returned to the 

 owner, and the property of the thief confiscated, 

 who, if dissatisfied, can make an appeal to the 

 Negoos; but in that case he must have very 

 good evidence of innocence, or he will, in 

 addition to the loss of his property, receive a severe 

 flogging, commonly inflicted by the Labarshi, at 

 the gate of the inner court of the palace, where the 

 Negoos, if he pleases, may see the punishment. 



In cases of suspicion or doubtful guilt, singularly 

 enough, the Shoans follow certain instructions 

 which they say are contained in the epistles of St. 

 Paul, and point more particularly to that passage 

 in the sixth chapter of Hebrews, where it is said, 

 "An oath for confirmation is the end of all strife." 

 It is, therefore, customary for the accuser and the 

 accused to present themselves at a church, where 

 before a priest mutual oaths are required to be 

 taken; the former swearing to the loss of his 

 property, the latter that the crime laid to his charge 

 is unfounded, and there, unless further evidence is 

 obtained, the matter ends. Should the accused 

 refuse to purge himself in this manner of the accu- 

 sation, it is considered as a confession of guilt, and 

 the priest then acts as mediator, and generally 



