SUMATRA, 
$01 
to ht dirmifled at dnce, as with us^ for want of fuch proof, numbers 
ofinnncent perfons would lofe the debts really dm to' them, through 
the knavery of the perfons indebted, who would fcarce ever fail to deny 
a debtj^ Oa the fide of the defendant ag-am ; if he was not permitted 
<o clear htmfolf of the debt by oath ; but that it refted with the plaintiff 
only, to efkblifh the fa£t by his lingle oath ; there would be a fet &i un- 
principled feMows daily fwearing debts again!! perfons who never were 
indebted to any of their ereneration.j;. In fuch fviits f and there are niany 
of them ; it requires no fmall dilcernment to difcover, by the attendant 
circumftances^ where the truth lies ; but this may be done, in moft in- 
stances, by a peribn who is ufed to their manners, and has a perfonal 
knowledge of the parties concerned, But what they rnesB by their 
oath, in thofe cafes, where it is impoffible they fliould be acqminted 
with the fafe they defign to prove, is no more dian this ^that thcj^^te 
fo convinced of the truth of the matter, as to be willing to fubject them* 
felves to the psp&fcmpab (deftrudive confcquenccs of perjury), if what 
•they aiTert is believed by them to befalfe. The form of words ufcd, is 
-iiearly as follows. If what I now declare, Dame^y" (here the fafl: is 
re'citedj " is truly an4 reaiiy lo^ may i bc/raci ^iwi clear from my oath : 
if^hati a^ri is w^tting^ly faife, may my oath be the caufe of my de* 
lkud:ion*'' But it may eafily be fuppofed, that where the poniflimcnt 
.for afalfc oath, rcfts altogether with the invifible powers, where nodi- 
Teft infamy^ fto corporal pUJiiihment is annexed to the perjury, there 
cannot be wanting many, who would waft^^f jmnpab (fwailow an oath), 
and wiUiugly incur the pajoQ^ m order to acquire a little of their neigh- 
bour's calk- 
Although an oath, as being an appeal to the fupenor powers, is fuppo- Oaihsr 
feci to eome within iheir cognizance alone, and that it is contrary to the 
fpirit of their cuft s, to punilh by human means, a perjury,, even if it 
were clearly detet" - d ; yet fo far prevalent is the opinion of their mrer- 
pofition in hum . affairs,, tlint it is very feldom any man of fnhftmcc^ 
Ol wh6 ha® 3! fainily that he fears may fuffcr by itj will Venture to fore- 
swear 
