Page:Malabari, Behramji M. - Gujarat and the Gujaratis (1882).djvu/203

Rh But except for the Judge's frown, we noticed no other punishment for false witness. All this was far from reassuring to me, and I once more requested friends to compromise with my persecutor, as the case would be soon coming on. Negotiations were opened, but now the pleader on the other side told my friends he "could not conscientiously advise his clients to withdraw." We saw we had to take our chance; but there was some hope in the judge before whom we were presently to stand, being reputed a patient and impartial man.

We entered the room, and on our pleader asking the interpreter where His Honour was, that pompous functionary declared, "The Court have gone to drink." There was no time to laugh over this interpreter's joke, for the "Court," alleged to have been in such undignified occupation, had already returned. The Judge fell to business as naturally as the child falls to its dinner of sugared milk. The complainant, my persecutor, was administered the oath. He promised by the life of every one of his 330,000,000 gods to tell the truth, "and nothing but truth." The Judge asked the interpreter if the complainant had been sworn. "Swored, your