Al>RlL.] 
FOR THEFT. 
183 
Several instantly ran to assist, and we followed 
them to a neighbouring inciosure. The young 
man was laid flat on the ground, and four men 
held his arms and legs ; the King stood at his 
head and a servant at his feet, both having large 
whips of the rhinoceros skin, resembling a lady's 
whip in England, but nearly twice the length. 
With these they scourged his back with great 
force. When he had received a good beating the 
King was requested to be satisfied. He imme- 
diately desisted, and ordered his servant to cease 
beating also. The young man, on rising, began to 
say something, no doubt on his own behalf, but 
he was instantly and severely struck by one of 
those who had assisted to punish him ; on at- 
tempting to speak a second time he received the 
same treatment as before, on which he went 
quietly and put on his cloak. The colour of the 
man's skin was nearly dark blue, and every stroke 
left a white mark, so that almost the whole of his 
back appeared as if it had been rubbed over with 
a chalk stone. The King retained his ordinary 
placid countenance the whole time — he appeared 
to be performing merely an act of justice. The 
crime was stealing a goat. It must have been a 
summary business, for the King was at the wag- 
gons only a short time before it happened. He 
had heard the case, passed judgment, and put it 
in execution with his own hands, all in the course 
of a few minutes. 
• 
