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Chapter XII. 
INTEREST FOR MONEY. 
The Law as inculcated in the Bali Code, Thotsameet Racha - 
t,ham, allows but of a very low rate of interest, and on the whole 
discountenances the practice of taking any at all. But experience 
has taught the Siamese as well as other nations, that money is itself 
a mere marketable commodity, and that trade cannot exist where its 
value and uses are placed under permanent and invariable restrictions. 
The Bali Code enjoins it as a duty incumbent on Kings to lend 
money without interest to their subjects. The civil Codes admit 
and sanction the following rates, 75 per cent per annum where Go¬ 
vernment money is concerned, and for subjects 37* per cent; but 
O 
the general run may be taken at 36 per cent per annum. Three 
per cent per month is fixed by the usury laws of China. [Sir G. Staun¬ 
ton’s Penal Code of China.] Interest cannot bear interest, but until 
a debt is paid the simple interest continues on the original sum *, the 
interest for the time first stipulated being previously paid. The in¬ 
terest can never exceed the principal; when both are equal, the debt 
must be settled, or remain as it is, unless another agreement is writ¬ 
ten out, making the principal and interest a new debt. 
DEPOSITS. 
Deposits are delivered in presence of witnesses. When given in 
charge to more than one person, much confusion generally ensues. 
But If one of the depositaries should be absent, and the other, when 
the deposit is demanded from him, should declare that it is in the 
hands of that first, then he is put on his oath. However, unless an 
agreement has been made to the contrary, the owner can demand his 
property, and receive it from either depositary in absence of one of 
them. Deposits may not be placed in the hands of a slave. The 
goods are usually put into the hands of that bailee or depositary, when 
there are more than one, whose age or respectability is greatest. De¬ 
posits may be delivered to persons authorised by the owner to re¬ 
ceive them. If the goods should be lost by a depositary he is res- 
