Page:The kingdom and people of Siam - with a narrative of the mission to that country in 1855 (IA b29352447 0001).pdf/209

 Mahat thai, who is the executive officer of the governor; the Sassade, or keeper of the popular records, and especially of the census. The Luang muang is an officer charged with the local police; the Luang pheng is the reader of the law applicable to the case under judgment; the Khun-khueng is the inflictor of punishments. This tribunal is called the Kromakan, but it invariably refers all important matters to the judgment of the King. Every high functionary has a court, named a Chang wang, exercising a sort of authority; but the supreme tribunal of the King, called the Sala luk khun, is the great resort of judicial action. This court is presided over by the Phaja rong muang, who has a number of subordinate officers, charged with investigations, and, to some extent, with deci- sions. They occupy raised seats in separate halls, on the stairs and neighbourhood of which crowds of prostrate suitors are to be seen, while the judges converse, smoke, drink tea, and chew betel. The action of the judiciary is tolerably prompt and despotic. A deposition having been laid before a judge, messengers are despatched to arrest the accused, around whose neck a white cloth is tied, and he is brought to the Them, or provincial prison, and is placed in fetters, unless he can pay for exemption. He must be provided for while in prison by his friends; and when he is conducted to the pre- sence of the judge, the indictment is read, and the witnesses interrogated; their depositions are com- mitted to writing, and the accused is allowed to call any number of witnesses in his defence. A false SIAMESE TRIBUNALS.