ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

S U M A T R A .
Remarks on, and elucidation of the various laws andcnjloms—Modes of
Pleading—Nature of Evidence-^Oaths—Inheritance—Outlaw­
ry—-Theft—Murder, and compenfation for it—Account of a
Feud—Debts'—Slavery,
H E foregoing fyftem of the addat, or cuftoms of the country, being Remarks on
digeftedfor the ufe of the natives, or of perfons well acquainted with l'a\vS f ° resomE
their manners, in general, and being defigned, not for an illuftration of
the cuftoms, but Amply as a ftandard of right, the feweft and concifeft
terms' poffible have been made ufe of, and many parts muft neceflarily
be obfcure to. the bulk of readers. I fhall therefore revert to
thofe particulars that may require explanation, and endeavor to throw a
light upon thé fpirit and operation of fuch of their laws efpecially, as
feem moft ta clafh. with our ideas of diftributive juftice. This comment
is the more requisite, as it appears that fome of their regulations, which
were judged to be ihconfiftent with the profperity of the people, were
altered and amended, through the more enlightened reafon of the gentleman
who acted as the reprefentative of the Englilh company. I muft
endeavour to recall the idea of the original inftitutions.
V *-•
The plaintiff and defendant ufually plead their own caufe, but if Modeof pleadcircumftances
render them unequal to it, they are allowed to finjam ing '
mooloot, (borrow a mouth). Their advocate may be a proatteen, or
any other perfon indifferently, nor is there any ftated compenfation for
the affiftance, though, if the caufe be gained, a gratuity is generally
given, and too. apt to be rapaeioufly exacted by the proatteens from
their clients, when their conduct is not attentively watched. The proatteen
alfo who is fecurity for the damages, receives privately fome consideration;
but none is openly allowed of.
Evidence is ufed among thefe people in a manner very different from Evidence,
*he forms of our courts of juftice. They never admit it on both fides of
E e e the
*9*