Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 28, 1917.djvu/137

 Collectanea. 105

would take the burning camphor oath. The Court being agreeable, witness was sent out to buy sothe camphor, while the case stood down.

On the proceedings being renewed, witness placed the camphor on the witness box and lit it. He then repeated his statement and slapped the flaming camphor out. Accused objected, saying that the witness had not reported his statement correctly, where- upon the witness took the oath once more. Accused, who ])ut up a weak defence, was fined $75 or two months' rigorous imprisonment.

The burning camphor oath mentioned above is a favourite one with the Tamils, and is said to be very binding. The person taking the oath is supposed to flutter out of life like the camphor flame he extinguishes if he attempts to swear a false statement. (M. M.) — Singapore Fra- Press, i8th October, 191 6.