102 



ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF 



as by way of appeal in the last resort. The Ditha also sometimes goes to 

 preside personally in the Taksar and Dhansar when any grave matter 

 therein arising calls for his presence." 



The subordination of the Talcsdr and Dhansar courts to the Ditha is 

 illustrated at length by Mr. Hodgson in the following manner : — " The 

 Sichdris of those courts hear, to a conclusion, all civil causes of whatever 

 amount, that plaintiffs choose to bring before them. They also hear, to 

 a conclusion, all plaints of wrongs done and suffered, save only such 

 as entail a punishment touching life or limb, or involving total confis- 

 cation. But at the close of each day they are obliged to go to the 

 Ditha and report, verbally merely and summarily, that such and such 

 cases have come before them, and been heard, and that in their opinion 

 such and such awards should be made. The Ditha may assent; and 

 then the awards are made accordingly by the respective Bicharis next 

 morning in the Taksar and Dhansar as the cases may have origin- 

 ated. Or the Ditha may dissent and direct in any case another 

 decree, and that without desiring to know more of such case than is thus 

 verbally set before him by the Bichdri concerned. The Bichdri may, in 

 this event, if he please and be acute, argue the topic and perhaps convince 

 the Ditha he is right and the Ditha wrong. Then again the award propos- 

 ed by the Bichdri will hold ; else, the Ditha will either immediately 

 direct another award ; or he will do so, after examining any documentary 

 evidence adduced in the cause and brought to him for perusal by the Bi- 

 chdri. But if neither the Bicharis verbal report of the case, nor the docu- 

 ments produced by them for summary examination by the Dilha afford him 

 satisfaction (as however in 90 cases out of 100 they do) the Ditha will 

 proceed to such Bichdri $ court and hear the cause anew,* presiding him- 

 self in that court for the occasion. Such is the mode of the Ditha' s 



* There is no want of leisure on the part of the Ditha to prevent his doing this, so often 

 as may be necessary. Arrears of business are unknown to the courts of Nipal, and the 

 current affairs of every court leave its judges at all times abundance of spare time. H. 



