Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/118

 104 LAWS. fined to the amount of twelve thousand PichiSy for the benefit of the injured person. If a man re- ceive the troth of a woman, and has paid the Pa- iuhoii, and she refuse to accept of him for her husband, alleging that he is a person of bad cha- racter, the man, on reference to the judge, shall be entitled to a fine of twelve thousand Pichis^ twice told, and the woman be compelled besides to restore the Patukon. If a woman be betrothed to one man, and another interrupts the marriage, and takes her to himself, he shall pay to the injured person double the purchase-money, and be fined besides in a sum of eight thousand Picliis." This short sketch of the civil laws of the Indian islanders will serve to convey some idea of their spirit, and I shall now proceed to treat of a more extensive subject, — their pe?ial code. This may be satisfactorily done under the five following heads, viz., the character and nature of their punishments, — allotment of punishment, according to the rank of the parties, — ofifenccs against property, — offences against persons, — and offences against the state. The punishments of the Indian islanders are ra- ther charactei'ized by their arbitrary violence, than by refinement in cruelty, as among the Hindus and Chinese. They shew, however, a much less regard for human life than the laws of these people, especially of the latter. Death is the punishment of a hundred trifling offences, and is awarded with