445 



those by fire and water. In the (rial by fire, a 

 trench, thirty feet bag and six bn^ad, b filled 

 with billets of wood ; aloug^ this trench, after the 

 wood has been reduced to a glowing charcoal, 

 the two parties are compelled to walk barefoot, 

 an attendant generally pressing on each shaul- 

 er, in order to prevent ttie loo rapid and light 

 passage of the individual thus undergoing the 

 .trial. * This, however, appears to act in precisely 

 the reverfte manner to which it is intended, m 

 the firm pre^^i-ure of the foot thu^ ensured tends 

 to smother the fire beneath it, the sole ofth<j 

 feet ol the Siamese and other oriental nations 

 being rendered nearly as hard and callous, by 

 the practice of walking barefoot, as shoe leather. 

 Immersing the hand in boiling oil is another S[>e- 

 cres of trial by fire. 



The ordeal by water is dimply a contest as to 

 which party can keep their head longest below 

 it, and similar to this is also the practice of ad- 

 ministering strong emetic pills, the retention of 

 which on the stomach is cont^idered an infallible 

 proof of innocence. The most unpleasant trial is 

 undoubtedly the exposure of both litigants to a 

 tiger. Whosoever is sparer!, is supposed to have 

 justice on his side, but, should the tiger attack, 

 neither, they are either subjected to some other 

 ordeal, or left until the tigers appetite becomes 

 keener, and the fate of either one or both is seal- 

 ed. 



With respect to robbery, Captain 11 am il ton 

 states that beheading follows on conviction,, 

 whilst M. Loubere asserts that the general pun-. 



