20. A Bráhmen supported only by his class, and one barely reputed a Bráhmen, but without performing any sacerdotal acts, may, at the king's pleasure, interpret the law to him so may the two middle classes; but a Súdra, in no case whatever.

21. Of that king, who stupidly looks on, while a Súdra decides causes, the kingdom itself shall be embarrassed, like a cow in deep mire.

22. The whole territory, which is inhabited by a number of Súdras, overwhelmed with atheists, and deprived of Bráhmens, must speedily perish, afflicted with dearth and disease.

23. LET the king or his judge, having seated himself on the bench, his body properly clothed and his mind attentively fixed, begin with doing reverence to the deities, who guard the world; and then let him enter on the trial of

causes:

24. Understanding what is expedient or inexpedient, but considering only what is law or not law, let him examine all disputes between parties, in the order of their several classes.

25. By external signs let him see through the thoughts of men; by their voice, colour, countenance, limbs, eyes, and action:

26. From the limbs, the look, the motion of the body, the gesticulation, the speech, the changes of the eye and the face, are discovered the internal workings of the mind.

27. THE property of a student and of an infant, whether by descent or otherwise, let the king hold in his custody, until the owner shall have ended his studentship, or until his infancy shall have ceased in his sixteenth year.

28. Equal care must be taken of barren women, of women without sons, whose husbands have married other wives, of women without kindred, or whose husbands are in distant places, of widows true to their lords, and of women afflicted with illness.

29. Such kinsmen, as, by any pretence, appropriate the fortunes of women during their lives, a just king must punish with the severity due to thieves.

30. Three years let the king detain the property of which

who was present at the place of the loan, or produce other evidence, as a note and the like.

53. The plaintiff, who calls a witness not present at the place, where the contract was made, or, having knowingly called him, disclaims him as his witness; or who perceives not, that he asserts confused and contradictory facts;

54. Or who, having stated what he designs to prove, varies afterwards from his case; or who, being questioned on a fact, which he had before admitted, refuses to acknowledge that very fact;

55. Or who has conversed with the witnesses in a place unfit for such conversation; or who declines answering a question properly put; or who departs from the court;

56. Or who, being ordered to speak, stands mute; or who proves not what he has alledged; or who knows not what is capable or incapable of proof; such a plaintiff shall fail in

that suit.

57. Him who has said "I have witnesses," and, being told to produce them, produces them not, the judge must on this account declare nonsuited.

58. If the plaintiff delay to put in his plaint, he may, according to the nature of the case, be corporally punished or justly amerced; and, if the defendant plead not within three fortnights, he is by law condemned.

59. In the double of that sum, which the defendant falsely denies, or on which the complainant falsely declares, shall those two men, wilfully offending against justice, be fined by the king.

60. When a man has been brought into court by a suitor for property, and, being called on to answer, denies the debt, the cause should be decided by the Bráhmen who represents the king, having heard three witnesses at least.

61. WHAT sort of witnesses must be produced by creditors and others on the trial of causes, I will comprehensively declare; and in what manner those witnesses must give true evidence.

62. Married house-keepers, men with male issue, inhabitants of the same district, either of the military, the commercial, or the servile class, are competent, when called by

the party, to give their evidence; not any persons indiscriminately, except in such cases of urgency as will soon be mentioned.

63. Just and sensible men of all the four classes may be witnesses on trials; men, who know their whole duty, and are free from covetousness: but men of an opposite character the judge must reject.

64. Those must not be admitted who have a pecuniary interest; nor familiar friends; nor menial servants; nor enemies; nor men formerly perjured; nor persons grievously diseased; nor those, who have committed heinous offences.

65. The king cannot be made a witness; nor cooks, and the like mean artificers; nor publick dancers and singers; nor a priest of deep learning in scripture; nor a student in theology; nor an anchoret secluded from all worldly connexions;

66. Nor one wholly dependent; nor one of bad fame; nor one, who follows a cruel occupation; nor one, who acts openly against the law; nor a decrepit old man; nor a child; nor one man only, unless he be distinguished for virtue; nor a wretch of the lowest mixed class; nor one, who has lost the organs of sense;

67. Nor one extremely grieved; nor one intoxicated; nor a madman; nor one tormented with hunger or thirst; nor one oppressed by fatigue; nor one excited by lust; nor one inflamed by wrath; nor one who has been convicted of theft.

68. Women should regularly be witnesses for women; twice-born men, for men alike twice-born; good servants and mechanicks, for servants and mechanicks; and those of the lowest race, for those of the lowest ;

69. But any person whatever, who has positive knowledge of transactions in the private apartments of a house, or in a forest, or at a time of death, may give evidence between the parties:

70. On failure of witnesses duly qualified, evidence may in such cases be given by a woman, by a child, or by an aged man, by a pupil, by a kinsman, by a slave, or by a hired servant;

who was present at the place of the loan, or produce other evidence, as a note and the like.

53. The plaintiff, who calls a witness not present at the place, where the contract was made, or, having knowingly called him, disclaims him as his witness; or who perceives not, that he asserts confused and contradictory facts;

54. Or who, having stated what he designs to prove, varies afterwards from his case; or who, being questioned on a fact, which he had before admitted, refuses to acknowledge that very fact;

55. Or who has conversed with the witnesses in a place unfit for such conversation; or who declines answering a question properly put; or who departs from the court;

56. Or who, being ordered to speak, stands mute; or who proves not what he has alledged; or who knows not what is. capable or incapable of proof; such a plaintiff shall fail in that suit.

57. Him who has said "I have witnesses," and, being told to produce them, produces them not, the judge must on this account declare nonsuited.

58. If the plaintiff delay to put in his plaint, he may, according to the nature of the case, be corporally punished or justly amerced; and, if the defendant plead not within three fortnights, he is by law condemned.

59. In the double of that sum, which the defendant falsely denies, or on which the complainant falsely declares, shall those two men, wilfully offending against justice, be fined by the king.

60. When a man has been brought into court by a suitor for property, and, being called on to answer, denies the debt, the cause should be decided by the Bráhmen who represents. the king, having heard three witnesses at least.

61. WHAT sort of witnesses must be produced by creditors and others on the trial of causes, I will comprehensively declare; and in what manner those witnesses must give true evidence.

62. Married house-keepers, men with male issue, inhabitants of the same district, either of the military, the commercial, or the servile class, are competent, when called by

the party, to give their evidence; not any persons indiscriminately, except in such cases of urgency as will soon be mentioned.

63. Just and sensible men of all the four classes may be witnesses on trials; men, who know their whole duty, and are free from covetousness: but men of an opposite character the judge must reject.

64. Those must not be admitted who have a pecuniary interest; nor familiar friends; nor menial servants; nor enemies; nor men formerly perjured; nor persons grievously diseased; nor those, who have committed heinous offences.

65. The king cannot be made a witness; nor cooks, and the like mean artificers; nor publick dancers and singers; nor a priest of deep learning in scripture; nor a student in theology; nor an anchoret secluded from all worldly connexions;

66. Nor one wholly dependent; nor one of bad fame ; nor one, who follows a cruel occupation; nor one, who acts openly against the law; nor a decrepit old man; nor a child; nor one man only, unless he be distinguished for virtue; nor a wretch of the lowest mixed class; nor one, who has lost the organs of sense;

67. Nor one extremely grieved; nor one intoxicated; nor a madman; nor one tormented with hunger or thirst; nor one oppressed by fatigue; nor one excited by lust; nor one inflamed by wrath; nor one who has been convicted of theft.

68. Women should regularly be witnesses for women; twice-born men, for men alike twice-born; good servants and mechanicks, for servants and mechanicks; and those of the lowest race, for those of the lowest ;

69. But any person whatever, who has positive knowledge of transactions in the private apartments of a house, or in a forest, or at a time of death, may give evidence between the parties:

70. On failure of witnesses duly qualified, evidence may in such cases be given by a woman, by a child, or by an aged man, by a pupil, by a kinsman, by a slave, or by a hired servant;