ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

S U M A T R A . ,s5
to fubmit to the decifion, than through a coercive power pofTeffed by the
court, for the redrefs of wrongs.
The want of a written criterion of the laws, and the imperfect {lability
of traditionary ufage, muft frequently in the intricacies of their fuits,
give rife to contradictory decifions; particularly as the interefts and
paffions of the chiefs are but too often concerned in the determination of
the caufes that come before them. This evil had long been perceived by
the Englifti Refidents, who, in the countries where we are fettled, prefide
at the bechars, and being inftigated by the fplendid example of the
Governor-general of Bengal, under whofe direction a code of the laws
of that empire was compiled, it was refolved, that the fervants of the
Company at each of the fubordinates, fhould, with the aififtance of the
ableft and moil experienced of the natives, attempt to reduce to writing,
and form a fyftem of the ufages of the country people, in their refpective
refidencies. This was accordingly executed in fome inftances, and
a tranflation of that compiled in the refidency of Laye; coming into my
poffeffion, I infert it here, in the original form, as being attended with
more authority and precifion, than any account furnifhed from my own
memorandums, could pretend to,,
REJANG LAWS.
" The laws and cuftoms of the Rejangs, hitherto preferred by tra-
" dition, are now, after being difcufied, amended, and ratifyed in an
" aflembly of the pangeran, pamiarabs and proattcens, committed to
" writing, in order that they may not be liable to alteration ; that juf-
" tice may be regularly and impartially adminiftered; that thofe de-
" ferving death or fine may meet their reward ; that caufes may be
" brought before the proper judges, and due amends made for defaults;
« that the compenfation for murder may be fully paid; that property
« may be equitably divided ; that what is borrowed may be reftored ;
" that gifts may become the undoubted property of the receiver; that
" debts may be paid, and credits received, agreeably to the cufloms
" that
Code of laws.