CHAPTER V. LAWS. Xatw of the Indian islanders a mixture of native Hindu and Arabian laiv. — Account of writings on Jurisprudence — Modes of administering justice. — Courts, — Proceedings. — Rides of evidence. — Civil laws. — Purchase and sale.—" Deposits. — Letting and hiring. — Loans. — Latos of inherit- ance. — Marriage-contract. — Penal laws. — Description of punishments. — Frequency of capital punis/unent. — Of fine. — A^ronl, or personal insult, a punishment by laxv. — Out.' lavory. — Modes of execution. — Lex talionis. - Pecuniary compensation for crimes. — Allotment of punishment accord' ing to rank. — Off^ences against property. — Theft. — Roh^ bery. — 'Offences against persons. — Abusive language. — Right of avenging tvrongs in a great measure left in pri- vate hands, and employment of hired champions to avenge private quarrels. — Wounding. — Murder and m/inslaugh- ter Injuries offered to the sex. — Seduction. — Adultery. — Offerees against the sovereign. — Exercise of unlawful tmtho' rity. — Giving false information. — Counterfoiting the royal signet — Treason and rebellion — OJfences against the laws oj nature. — Sorcery. — Marriages wtthin jjrohibited degrees. Having rendered an account of the forms of go- vernment among the Indian islanders, I shall con- clude this book by a sketch of their laws, in the course of wiuch 1 shall rather attempt to shew their spirit and character than enter into any minute
