be the guilty one, or his accomplice, for no innocent leviathan could be permitted by the fates to be caught by man."[9] So, also, the Malagasy will never kill a crocodile, except in retaliation for one of their friends or neighbours who has been destroyed by a crocodile. "They believe that the wanton destruction of one of these reptiles will be followed by the loss of human life, in accordance with the principle of _lex talionis_. The inhabitants living in the neighbourhood of the lake Itàsy, to the west of the central province, are accustomed to make a yearly proclamation {253} to the crocodiles, warning them that they shall revenge the death of some of their friends by killing as many _voày_ in return, and warning the well-disposed crocodiles to keep out of the way, as they have no quarrel with them, but only with their evil-minded relatives who have taken human life."[10] [Footnote 7: Harmon, _Journal of Voyages and Travels in the Interior of North America_, p. 327. Southey, _History of Brazil_, i. 223. _Cf._ Bastian, _Der Mensch in der Geschichte_, iii. 25.] [Footnote 8: Macrae, 'Account of the Kookies,' in _Asiatick Researches_, vii. 189.] [Footnote 9: Perham, 'Sea Dyak Religion,' in _Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society_, No. 10, p. 221 _sq._ _Cf._ Frazer, _Golden Bough_, ii. 390.] [Footnote 10: Sibree, _The Great African Island_, p. 269.] Animals are not only exposed to the blood-feud, but are often exposed to regular punishment. This is the case among the Mambettu in Central Africa. Casati mentions the following instance:--"A goat was chased and persecuted by a dog, and in the fight for self-defence the latter received a thrust from the goat's horn. The poor dog, which was the valuable property of a powerful man, died shortly after. This serious matter was much discussed and commented upon, and finally referred to the king for judgment. The poor goat was sentenced to be slaughtered before its victim's corpse, its flesh was served to the Mambettu [that is, people of the superior race], and that of the dog to the Mege [that is, people of the conquered race]."[11] Among the Maori, according to Polack, the crime of impiety is not confined to man only, but even a pig straying over a sacred place incurs the punishment of death.[12] In Muhammedan East Africa, some time ago, a dog was publicly scourged for having entered a mosque.[13] The Bogos kill a bull or cow which causes the death of a man.[14] According to the native code of Malacca, if a buffalo or a head of cattle "be tied in the forest, in a place where people are not in the habit of passing, and there gore anybody to death, it shall be put to death"; but the owner of the animal shall not be held liable.[15] According to Hebrew law, "if an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten"; and, in the case of sexual intercourse {254} between a man, or woman, and a beast, not