Little, too, is known of the judicial arrangements; official advocates and a kind of police existed, and important cases in provincial villages were referred to the overlords, whose power was absolute. In the case of minor offences, the local chief had jurisdiction, and if the parties belonged to different villages, the chief of the offender’s village would send satisfaction to the other, or else strife resulted. For many offences, even homicide if accidental, compensation was possible, and the relations of the guilty person would assist him in paying the fine, though the right of retaliation in cases of manslaughter lay with the relations of the deceased. If the injury were obviously malicious, the question was rarely settled without the parties coming to blows. For theft the culprit was compelled to restore the plunder, and if he could not he was enslaved; thus the number of slaves in the community was considerably increased in times of famine, for nearly all cases of stealing were connected with food. Captives of lower rank also became slaves, but any slave might redeem himself, though children born in slavery remained slaves until compensation was paid to their owners. Slaves could be sold, but if one died or escaped soon after his purchase, part of the price paid for him could be reclaimed. The robbing of a minor was considered a particularly disgraceful offence. In ordinary cases a man’s property was divided among his sons, those who had contributed most towards its increase receiving a larger share. Daughters had no right to any of the inheritance, though they were usually given a portion. If there were no sons, the property went to the nearest male relations, but if the sons were still young, guardians were appointed to provide the mother with the necessaries for their education. The arrangements were made in the presence of the local chief and the principal men of the place, and any dishonesty on the part of the guardians involved them in infamy; however, we are told that the system was the cause of frequent quarrels. Matrimonial cases were not infrequent, but the punishment was severe; the male culprit was tied to a post in the chief’s quarter and handed over to the injured husband, who might accept compensation, or take his revenge by smashing the head of his supplanter with a stone. The woman incurred perpetual obloquy, no light punishment, and was usually divorced by her husband. Among the Kakchiquel we read of an execution by fastening a prisoner to a tree and shooting at him with arrows, while among the Tzutuhil of Atitlan hanging and quartering were practised. At the latter locality the chief would send a relation to enquire into offences committed in outlying villages; his decision was without appeal, and in cases involving a fine he received one-half as payment for his services. It is probable that similar systems prevailed generally among the Quiché and Kakchiquel.