According to our notions, blind Hödur is perfectly innocent of his brother's death; yet the avenger, Vali, by the usual Germanic vow, neither washes nor combs his hair till he has killed Hödur. It is also instructive to note that the narrator of this story finds himself called upon to explain, and, in a manner, to excuse the Asas for not punishing Hödur at once, the place where they were assembled being a sacred place.[10] We find survivals of a similar view in laws of a comparatively recent date. The earliest of the Norman customals declares quite plainly that the man who kills his lord by misadventure must die.[11] And, according to a passage in 'Leges Henrici I.,' in case A by mischance falls from a tree upon B and kills him, then, if B's kinsman must needs have vengeance, he may climb a tree and fall upon A.[12] This provision has been justly represented as a curious instance of a growing appreciation of moral differences, which has not dared to abolish, but has tried to circumvent the ancient rule.[13] [Footnote 1: von Martius, _Beiträge zür Ethnographie Amerika's_, i. 693 _sq._] [Footnote 2: Im Thurn, _Among the Indians of Guiana_, p. 214.] [Footnote 3: Adair, _History of the American Indians_, p. 150.] [Footnote 4: Rautanen, in Steinmetz, _Rechtsverhältnisse_, p. 341.] [Footnote 5: Sorge, _ibid._ p. 418.] [Footnote 6: Kohler, in _Zeitschr. f. vergl. Rechtswiss._ xiv. 443. See also _Idem_, _Shakespeare vor dem Forum der Jurisprudenz_, p. 188.] [Footnote 7: Fisher, in _Jour. Asiatic Soc. Bengal_, ix. 835.] [Footnote 8: Rohde, _Psyche_, pp. 237, 238, 242.] [Footnote 9: Wilda, _Strafrecht der Germanen_, p. 174.] [Footnote 10: _Snorri Sturluson_, 'Gylfaginning,' 50, in _Edda_, p. 59. _Cf._ Brunner, _Forschungen zur Geschichte des deutschen und französischen Rechtes_, p. 489.] [Footnote 11: Pollock and Maitland, _History of English Law before the Time of Edward I._ ii. 482.] [Footnote 12: _Leges Henrici I._ xc. 7.] [Footnote 13: Pollock and Maitland, _op. cit._ ii. 471.] {219} Among the Kandhs "similar compensation is made in all cases both of excusable homicide and of manslaughter."[14] And the same is said to be the case among various other savages or barbarians.[15] [Footnote 14: Macpherson, _Memorials of Service in India_, p. 82.] [Footnote 15: Crawfurd, _History of the Indian Archipelago_, iii. 123. Ellis, _E[(w]e-speaking Peoples of the Slave Coast_, p. 223. Munzinger, _Ostafrikanische Studien_, p. 502 (Barea and Kunáma).] However, this want of discrimination between intentional and accidental injuries is not restricted to cases of revenge or compensation. Early punishment is sometimes equally indiscriminate.