THEFT. 
. 421 
Bali of Lane cl or Ceylon but it is considered to be of no efficacy in 
the avocations of a thief. Soonak, k,hatang soomang k s hanyarig soo- 
patee t,heetang sapp,1ia mok,hang p,lianfcareso. 
Thieves use sharp spikes of bamboo so joined together that when 
east down one or two points always remain upright. These they 
throw in their retreat, so that pursuers may be wounded in the feet. 
Pit fails must not be dug without due notice having been given.* 
In cases of assault and affrays where individuals may receive wounds, 
the judges are recommended to confine their examination to the most 
prominent parts of a charge. Thus if a man be beaten, and wound¬ 
ed with a weapon at the same time, the injury sustained by the last 
infliction will be principally attended to. 
Where there are many defendants, which is likely to happen in 
the cases just mentioned, one of them may advocate the cause of the 
rest. By advocating is not meant pleading, but merely giving in a 
written statement of circumstances. 
The fines for assault, correspond with the rank of the offender, 
since the king would otherwise gain little by his share of fines. 
Amongst the recorded cases a Chinese trader is fined 13 Bs. 
for cutting another on the head, and a women for an assault and for 
maiming another is sentenced to pay 105,000 bea or cowries only, 
because she had tried to compromise matters. 
A threat to strike with a weapon will expose the threatener to a 
fine of one half the value of that weapon. 
A person who strikes a parent or other very near relative is pun¬ 
ished by branding and amputation of the hands, or if he used his feet 
against them, by their amputation. 
As may be supposed these last noticed severe laws defeat them¬ 
selves, as the affection will almost always exceed the sense of injury, 
and prevent redress being sought for. 
Abusive language to parents, or near relatives is followed by the 
offender receiving a beating on the mouth with a cocoanut shell or 
slipper. 
■f This plan is frequently adopted by Penang thieves. 
