The provincial Magistracy are mainly employed in keeping the Lower-Castes in order, and especially in punishing trespasses upon the lands, or upon the convenience of the Higher-Castes. The most common form of trespass is that called _Poaching_. The High-Castes own all the lands, and the Low-Castes, who till the soil, are the ancient slaves--slaves no longer under any law, but nearly as much so by custom. Very poor, but little better than beggars, and really beggars in large numbers, and hungry, the temptation to knock over the abundant nearly tame creatures (birds, fowls, hares, and the like) everywhere around them in the fields and copses, is too strong to be resisted. To do this is to be a _Poacher_--a criminal most detested by the High-Caste; for he presumes to think, in some cases, that the right in these free creatures is _not_ absolutely vested in the High-Castes. Yet this sort of property is most rigidly _preserved_, by the penalties of severe punishment, to the use of the High-Caste--for his sport in the shooting of them, rather than for food. The Poacher, who is merely tempted by hunger, and who abjectly begs pity and promises reformation, escapes in some instances lightly; but he who presumes to question the right to this wholesale appropriation feels the full wrath of the Law. Petty civil and criminal offences may be tried by the Provincial Magistracy; subject, however, in cases involving any interests of importance, to revision at the Capital. There is a sort of Provincial (and yet Metropolitan) Court called _Convocation_ [Kal-ti-se]. In this, things touching the Christ-god Superstition are determined. If a Bonze has not worn, or has worn improperly, his neck-tie, or his _surplice_ [ro-bsi]; if the table before the Altar (Idol) has been placed out of square; for things of this sort--or if a Bonze be accused of departing from the ordered rendering of some word in the _Sacred Writings_, or of having said something contrary to the orders of Convocation or of the _rites_--for these and other things respecting the great Idolatry, _Convocation_ sits. It is composed of High Bonzes and a few delegates of High-Caste devotees, whose duty is merely to ratify the decisions of the High Bonzes--these regulate everything. This High and Lofty Court was anciently styled _Star Chamber_, because exalted above mere mortal interests, and only concerned with the preservation of the Idolatry. Formerly it worshipped the Sovereign as Pope of the Superstition more devotedly than is the fashion at present, and burnt people to death for refusing to do so. Now it refrains from this severity, and is content (or tries to be) with depriving a Bonze who doubts, of his _living_, and all honours and emoluments.