S"2 JOURNAL R. A. S. CEYLON. [EXTRA NO. 



the matter of the concubine and slave : judge both of them con-* 

 form ably with the law." I replied, " It is a cause in which it is 

 not fitting to deliver judgment save at the Sultan's palace." 

 I then returned thither : the people assembled, and the concubine 

 and the slave were summoned. I ordered that both should be 

 beaten for their liaison ; and adjudged that the woman should be 

 set at liberty and the slave kept in prison ; after which I returned 

 home. 



The Vizier sent several of his principal attendants to speak 

 to me about setting the slave at liberty. I said to them, " Inter- 

 cession is made with me in favor of a negro slave, who has 

 violated the respect which he owed to his master ; while but 

 yesterday, you have deposed the Sultan Chihdb eddin and slain 

 him, because he went into the house of one of his slaves." 

 Thereupon I ordered the prisoner to be beaten with bambu 

 switches, which produced more effect than the whip. I had 

 him marched through the whole island, with a rope round his 

 neck. The messengers of the Vizier went and informed him of 

 what passed. He discovered great agitation and was inflamed 

 with anger. He assembled the other Viziers, the chiefs of the 

 army, and sent for me. I obeyed the summons. It was my custom 

 to pay him homage by bending the knee. This time I did not 

 do so, only saying " Peace be with you !" * Then I said to those 

 present, " Be ye witnesses that I resign my functions as Kazi, 

 because I am rendered powerless to exercise them." The Vizier 

 having then bespoke me, I went up and took a seat in front of 

 him, and then I answered him in terms yet more severe. After 

 this rencontre, the Mouezzin made the call to prayer at sun-down, 

 and the Grand Vizier entered his house, saying, " It is pretended 

 that I am a sovereign ; but see ! I have sent for this man in 

 order to vent my wrath upon him, and he dares to be angry with 

 me." I was only respected by these islanders for the sake of 

 the Sultan of India, for they knew the position I occupied under 



* Salaam akmn /— Ar, 



