288 6IAWE.SK EVIDENCE & EXCLUSIONS* 



7. Executioners — because cruel in mind, and 

 reckless. 



8. Shoemakers — This prohibition is derived from, 

 Hindoo tji^tii utcs ; 1 lie profession being considered 

 tit grading, 



!)., Brazier* — for i!ie same reason as ironsmilbs. 



10. Breakers of any of the eight conimauduieiits 

 of Beoduha — tliis is plain enough. 



11. Vagabonds — tlii i i< sclf.c\ ident. 



12. 1 'heat rind pel •formers of e\cry desci ij>tiou— 

 because dissolute *P tfyflW manners. 



13. Persons afflicted widi loathsome or incur.: ! S 

 diseases — because, a* some Siamese affirm, they are 

 expiating crimes committed in a previous state of 

 existence. 



14. Children under seven years of age, and pers^es 

 whose age exceeds 70 years — imbecility. 



1£. MuhifuaJ slanderers — this is a \er\ four hit. 



16. Obstetricians — because they are bribed often 

 to kill the infant in ihe birth — so say the Siamese. 



\7. Sorcerers— this is also evident enough, rclat i\ c- 

 h to Indian ideas. 



IB. Personal enemies of those against vthoni evi- 

 dence Is to he given — tins is < -Jear enough. 



Convicted felons — because they have lost all 

 regard to character. 



In British courts here, the Siamese are sworn on 

 the D 'hum ma [Burma] Chaow, or Booddhist scrip- 

 ture, which is held over the head of the prosecutor 

 #ir witness, while he repeats hi creed, beginning thus: 

 Naiuo Tntsa, B'hakkhavrato Arahat'to ; Sammasam 

 P,hoot-thasa. He is then admonished to speak the 

 truth. The same form is used for the Burmese, only 

 the Dbamma or Chaow is in the Burmese character, 

 and the words are a little- altered in the pronuuu- 

 ciation. 



