MADRAS IN 17 14. 



7 



like. Women were to be examined as witnesses only in cases 

 of absolute necessity. And persons suffering from deformity 

 of body were taken to be unworthy of great credit. All this 

 savours strongly of the dharmasdstra, and I make no doubt 

 that in giving information upon these points the worthy 

 writer only reproduced conventional ideas communicated to 

 him by Brahmans who " knew the Vedas." He does not 

 profess himself to have attended courts, and repeatedly to 

 have derived satisfaction from the contemplation of careful 

 judges, wealthy but honest, re-examining and cross-examining 

 suspicious characters. On the contrary, he expressly states 

 that judges were but little honest. And I am firmly per- 

 suaded that not only were no careful judges to be found in 

 Father Bouchet's day, in fact no courts of justice, nothing even 

 remotely resembling one, existed in the Madura country. 



The writer of the epistle states that every head of the 

 village was judge of all causes arising within the limits of 

 his village, a ad heard and determined causes, assisted by 

 three or four experienced villagers selected by him as asses- 

 sors. Most suits were for debt. Litigants pleaded in 

 person or by a friend. Great order and decorum prevailed 

 during the trial. After hearing the parties and their wit- 

 nesses, the court dismissed them and took time to consider- 

 And, if there was but little honesty in deciding, there was 

 but little delay or expense. It appears, however, that whilst 

 most suits were for debt, and obligations to pay money were 

 customarily evidenced by writings duly dated, signed and 

 attested by at least three witnesses, obstinate debtors usually 

 were not proceeded against in the village court. The reason 

 why this was so is not given by Father Bouchet, but will 

 readily occur to the mind of an Indian judge. Doubtless it 

 was because the head of the village had no power to enforce 

 execution of his decree, and never was more than arbitrator 

 or conciliator as between friendly disputants. Because the 



