the man has walked
thus far the accused rise above the water, he is
condemned; if not, acquitted.

"IV. There are two sorts of trial by poison. First,
the Pandits having performed their homa, and the
person accused his ablution, two retti's and a half,
or seven barley-corns, of vishanaga, a poisonous root,
or of sanc'hya, that is, white arsenic, are mixed in
eight mashas, or sixty-four retti's of clarified
butter, which the accused must eat from the hand of a
Brahman: if the poison produce no visible effect, he
is absolved; otherwise, condemned. Secondly, the
hooded snake, called naga, is thrown into a deep
earthen pot, into which is dropped a ring, a seal, or
a coin; this the person accused is ordered to take out
with his hand; and, if the serpent bite him, he is
pronounced guilty; if not, innocent.

"V. Trial by the cosha is as follows: the accused is
made to drink three draughts of the water in which the
images of the sun, of Devi, and other deities have
been washed for that purpose; and if within fourteen
days he has any sickness or indisposition, his crime
is considered as proved.

"VI. When several persons are suspected of theft, some
dry rice is weighed with the sacred stone called
salcram; or certain slocas are read over it; after
which the suspected persons are severally ordered to
chew a quantity of it: as soon as they have chewed it,
they are to throw it on some leaves of the pippal, or,
if none be at hand, on some b'hurja patra, or bark of
a tree from Nepal or Cashmir. The man from whose mouth
the rice comes dry or stained with blood, is holden
guilty; the rest are acquitted.

"VII. The ordeal by hot oil is very simple: when it is
heated sufficiently, the accused thrusts his hand into
it; and, if he be not burned, is held innocent.

"VIII. In the same manner they make an iron ball, or
the head of a lance, red-hot, and place it in the
hands of the person accused; who, if it burn him not,
is judged guiltless.

"IX. To perform the ordeal by dharmarch, which is the
name of the sloca appropriated to this mode of trial,
either an image named Dharma, or the Genius of
Justice, is made of silver, and another, called
Adharma, of clay or iron, bo