[Footnote 29: Of the Brabeesh clan; see the Map.]

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

Punishments are the bastinado, imprisonment, and fine. He
recollects but one prison. If a native stabs another, he is obliged
to attend the wounded man until he recovers; if he dies, the
offender is put to death. The offender must pay a daily allowance
to the wounded man for his support; if the wound appears dangerous,
the culprit is immediately imprisoned; if the wounded man recovers,
the offender must pay a fine and suffer the bastinado. There are
four capital punishments: beheading, hanging, strangling and
bastinadoing to death. Beheading is preferred; it is thus
performed: the criminal sits down, and a person behind gives him a
blow or push on the back or shoulder, which makes him turn his
head, and while his attention is thus employed, the executioner
16 strikes it off. Hanging and strangling are seldom used; and
bastinadoing to death, is only inflicted when the crime is highly
aggravated. Capital crimes are murder, robbery with violence, and
stealing cattle. Small offences, as stealing slaves and other
articles, are punished by the bastinado. The landed estates of
criminals are never forfeited.[30] The police is so good, that
merchants reside there in perfect safety. There are no exactions or
extortions practised by government, as in Barbary, nor even any
presents asked for the king. A debtor proving his inability, cannot
be molested[31]; but to the extent of his means he is always
liable; on refusing to pay, he may be imprisoned; but upon proving
his insolvency before the judge, he is discharged, though always
liable if he should have means at any future time. Watchmen patrole
17 in the night with their dogs; others are stationed in particular
places, as the market-place and the _kasserea_, or square, where
the merchants have their shops. Guards are placed at the king's
palace. Capital crimes are tried by the king: smaller offences by
inferior magistrates. The council sit with the king, every man
according to his rank; it consists of the principal officers of his
household; he asks _their_ opinion, but unless they are unanimous,
decides according to his own. There are always five or six judges
sitting in the king's court for the general administration of