SKETCH OF ARACAN. 355 



reporters,) : if the case could not be settled by them, an appeal was made to 

 the Raja, whose decision was final in all cases, not affecting the officers of 

 the state or Kheuks of village divisions, who had the privilege of appealing to 

 the Shawaij Wkloido, or Court of the King in Council. In capital offences, the 

 friends of the criminal, if able to pay a handsome sum of money, rarely failed 

 to effect the release of the culprit, and often, even, at the place of execution. 

 In many cases, plaintiff and defendant were both made to pay fees and costs, 

 of which the officers of the police had their share, and in consequence the ut- 

 most vigilance and efficiency were kept up, rendering it almost impossible for 

 crime to be committed without the knowledge of the civil officers of the state. 



The province of Ramree including Amherst Island, is divided into twen- 

 ty-five village divisions. The Island of Cheduba has always been considered as 

 one district, and contains ten paras. The provinces of Ramree, Sandaway, and 

 Cheduba, had each a Deputy Governor, but all were subordinate to the Raja 

 of Aracan, whose situation was the best in the gift of the King of Ava, and 

 always bestowed upon some relation, or as a reward for eminent service ren- 

 dered to the state by the individual invested with that high honor, who was 

 only required to remit a portion of the revenue to Ava for the support of the 

 white elephant, never exceeding one hundred and twenty blsrvas of silver, 

 equal to about sicca rupees eighteen thousand, six hundred and sixty-three : 

 the remainder became his sole perquisite. 



The Governor and Deputy Governors were, generally, relieved every 

 third or fourth year. When their successors arrived, the Kheuks, or head men 

 of village divisions, were summoned to the seat of Government, when a heavy 

 fee was exacted for confirming them in all their former rights and privileges. 



According to the Chronology of the Mughs, the present year of our 

 Lord 1826, corresponds with 1188 of their era, which was established in honor 



3 s 



