An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies: Together with an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and Divers other Englishmen Now Living There, and of the Author's Miraculous EscapeKnox, Robert
History
An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies: Together with an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and Divers other Englishmen Now Living There, and of the Author's Miraculous Escape
Knox, Robert
Sri Lanka -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Sri Lanka -- Social life and customs
[If the debtor pay not his debt he is lyable to be a slave for it.] But
yet it is lawful for the Creditor, missing Corn, to lay hands on any
of his goods: or if the sum be somewhat considerable on his Cattle or
Children, first taking out a License from the Magistrate so to do,
or if he have none, on himself or his wife, if she came with him
to fetch the debt, if not, she is clear from this violence; but his
Children are not.
[Divers other Laws and Customes.] If a woman goes away from her
Husband without his consent, no Man may marry her, until he first
be married. In lending of mony by the use of it in one years time,
it becomes double. And if the Creditor receive not his mony at the
expiration of the year, but lets it lie in the Debtors hands never
so long after, no more than double is to be paid, the encrease never
runs up higher as it is in lending Corn. If a Bond-woman has Children
by a Free-man, the Children all are Slaves to her Master: but if a
Bond-man has Children by a Free-woman, the Children are free: For the
Children are always as the Mother, whether Bond or Free. No man may
cut down a Coker-nut-Tree. If any man to a bargain or promise gives a
stone in the Kings name, it is as firm as hand and seal. And if any
after this go back of his word, it will bear an Action. If any man
be taken stealing, he must restore seven for one, or else be made a
Slave, if he be not able to pay it.
It is lawful and customary for a man in necessity to sell or pawn his
Children, or himself. No man building an house either in his own or
another mans ground, if he be afterwards minded to leave his Land,
where his house stood, may pull it down again: But must let it stand
for the benefit of whosoever comes after him.
[For deciding controversies.] For the deciding of matters in
controversie especially of more abstruse cognizance, the parties
do both swear before their Gods, sometimes in their Temples, and
sometimes upon more extraordinary occasions in hot Oyl.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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