ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

S U M A T R A . 211
it was firing for a falute,, and was killed by the explofion; upon which
his relations immediately fued the ferjeant of the country guard, who
applied the match, for the recovery of the bangoon ; but they were call,
and upon thefe grounds ; that the dupatty was inftrumental in his own
death; and that the Company's fervants being amenable to other laws
for their crimes, were not, by eftablifhed cuftom, fubjedr. to the bangoon,
or other penalties inflicted by the native chiefs, for accidents re*
fulting from the execution of their duty. The tippong boomee, expiation,
or purification of the earth from, the ftain it has received, was however
gratuitoufly paid. No plea was fet up, that the action was unpremedU
tated, and the event chance medley».
The amount of the bangoon, in the countries fouthward of Rejang, is
fixt at eighty eight dollars and eight fanams; and the tippong boomce,
called there haffing loora, is twenty eight dollars; befide finding a bufta-
3oe and rice. There is alfo the palantan or beto, of fourteen dollars,,
paid both by the profecutor and profecuted, where there have been killed
or wounded on both fides: but if a man kills another who makes no>
refiftance, the whole palantan, or twenty-eight dollars, is paid by themurderer.
The introduction of this cuftom is beyond the extent of Sumatran
tradition, and has no connexion with, or dependance on Mahometanifm,
being eftabliflied amongft the moft inland people from time immemorial.
In early ages it was by no means confined to that part of the world. The
lawoon is perfectly the fame as the compenfation for murder, in the rude
inftitutions of our Saxon anceftors, and other northern nations.. It is
the eric of Ireland, and the aponai of the Greeks. In the compartments •
of the fhield of Achilles, Homer defcribes the adjudgement of a fine
for homicide. It would feem then to be a natural ftep in the advances
from anarchy to fettled government, and can only take place in fuch for
cieties as have already a ftrong idea of the value of perfonal property,
efteeming it's pofl'effion of the next importance to that of life, and pla.-
H- h h cing