Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/112

98 LAWS. compelled to serve him until the debt be dis- charged, and he is then nearly in the condition of a slave. Every man has his fixed price ; and, if the debt exceed this, he either loses his liberty alto^ gether, or his family are compelled to serve the creditor along with him. The following two laws of Malacca have refer- ence to this practice : *' If a man be in debt to such an amount as to exceed his estimated price in the country, then it shall be lawful for his creditor to punish him by stripes or abusive language — but after the manner of a freeman, and not of a slave." — " If a man deflower a virgin that is his debtor, he shall be compelled either to marry her or forfeit the amount of the debt." This universal custom is more distinctly express- ed in the laws of Sumatra, as collected by the offi- cers of the British government : " When a debt,** say these, " becomes due, and the debtor is unable to pay his creditor, or has no effects to deposit, he shall himself, or his wife, or his children, live with the creditor as his bond slave or slaves, until re- deemed by the payment of the debt." With respect to inheritance^ the converted tribes, in this matter, are chiefly guided by the complex rules of Mahomedan jurisprudence. W^here there is a right of private property in land, or at least the usufruct of it, there is generally a community of goods among the members of a family. It is held