200 BATTA TRTBflB. 



lrave been converted to 14amisni, it bas peihaps sel- 

 dom happened that one has been called on to take 

 an oath according to the iiatla form., and it was 

 very clear that 'there was no one present in the 

 crowded Court who would have u.-nturecl to say how 

 ahe ought to have been sworn. The w oman being pro- 

 secutrix, mid also just severed from a savage tribe, 

 rendered it most desirable that she should lie sworn 

 according to the form most binding ouiier consci- 

 ence. I liejfe was, it roust be premised, no one to 

 swear, that she was a Battu, ciiln.r in person or 

 mind/ It is e!e:ir therefore Miat the Judge and Jury 

 had only this guaranty for the truth being spoken, 

 that the witness exhibited a simplicity and unem- 

 barrassed earnestness of manner, which great adroit- 

 ness and duplicity only could have enabled her to 

 assume. i>he desired to be sworn on the earth, 

 or ground — the form being, as she said, to place 

 Lor right hand on it and imprecate every calamity 

 and torment <to be her portion, should she foi>w ear 

 herself. Some earth was brought into the Court, 

 and >he laid her hand on it and swore by it. It 

 should seem, however, that the witness ought to 

 place the hand on the ground itself. But then again, 

 witnesses inu>t lie Bworn " in open Court !" i he 

 accused was convicted to a certain extent. This 

 mode of imprecation, or of giving force to an asser- 

 tion, seems to be of Hindoo origin. The Mala ys, 

 although Mahometans, yet swear amongst themselves 

 Ijy the Brnai or earth, which they strike with 

 the prflm of the rigdit hand, whenever they wish 

 to produce a siro.ntj conviction of their veracity; 

 «ud such earnestness, joined to long personal observa- 

 tion induces mc to believe that this 'lacking supersti- 

 tion and remnant of Hindooi-m often inspires inure 

 dread 'f ban an asseveration on the'koran ! 



