Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/133

LAWS. 119 ject : " Should a person lose property of any kind, without knowing how, and in searching for his goods, any one should say, without being question- ed, * I did not steal them,' such person shall be obliged to restore the value of the missing goods. If several people be assembled together, and one of them happen to lose something, whoever is the first to quit the party shall be considered the thief, and be compelled to make restitution tivo-fold.'* — " If a thief, who is pursued, runs into a man's premises by a gap in the paling, the proprietor shall be held responsible for one-third of the amount stolen." — " Any person in whose possession the implements of a thief's calling are found, shall be considered guilty of any robbery committed at the time." Offences against per sms may be considered un- der the heads of abusive language, assault, injuries offered to the seXy and murder. In the sketch which I have given of the character of the people in a preceding part of this work, I have expressly stat- ed, that they were not addicted to the use of gross or abusive language. The use of such language is, indeed, so apt to be punished by instant recourse to the dagger, that the law has little occasion to in- terfere for its correction. Among some of the tribes, abusive language cannot with impunity be used even to a slave. Blows are still more intolera- ble, and considered such grievous affronts, that, by law, the person who receives them is considered