TO THE COURT OF AVA. 
133 
Siam, seems to be allotted for the performance of 
these services. When services or contributions 
are wanted, the Lut-d’hau issues a royal decree to 
the inferior officers in the provinces as occasion 
requires, and without any systematic or establish¬ 
ed arrangement. 
Of slaves there are two classes, slave debtors and 
hereditary slaves ; the first being, I believe, by far 
the most numerous : these consist of persons who 
mortgage their services for a debt, and who are 
considered a kind of slaves until the debt be liqui¬ 
dated. In this case, children are bound for the 
debts of their parents; and the master, if he think 
proper to insist upon it, has a right to value the 
rearing of every child of such bondsman at the 
rate of twenty-five ticals. It is not, however, I 
am told, the custom to exact this condition. It 
is an invidious right, which it would be unpopular 
to exercise; so that it would appear, that even in 
this state of society, public opinion exercises some 
little sway. The services of the party mortgaging 
them are considered to be an equivalent for the 
interests of the debt, and whatever their value or 
nature, never go towards the liquidation of the 
principal. Over a slave of this description, the 
master has the power of inflicting corporal pu¬ 
nishment to enforce service or labour, provided that 
punishment be not carried the length of “ drawing 
blood,”— a matter which the Burmans hold in great 
horror, without their having at the same time any 
