KAFFIR PUNISHMENTS. 
247 
from a combination of causes, punish them in 
different ways. 
"When a chief, or a parent, is murdered, 
death is usually the punishment ; but, in other 
cases, a fine is only levied, which is so light a 
punishment for such a grave offence, that I 
cannot approve of it. I am, however, of opinion 
that murders are not oftener committed, because 
the punishment is light. 
"Death was the penalty attached to the 
crime of a follower deserting his own chief, to 
join a neighbouring one. This apparent seve- 
rity was necessary for the safety of the state. 
u ~No chief could maintain his rank and power, 
by resting solely on his hereditary claim. He 
could be secure, and great, only in proportion 
to the number of his men, or his ability to 
maintain his position, and protect the cattle 
of his tribe, from the inroads of his neighbours. 
The desertion of one or more of his follow- 
ers endangered, in a greater or less degree, 
the safety of the whole tribe ; not merely by 
adding so much to the strength of his neigh- 
bour, but from the amount also of valuable 
information he could communicate to him. 
"The circumstances of the native tribes living 
in this district, having been so materially al- 
tered, by living in a state of peaceful prosperity, 
under British protection, the punishment for 
