St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-09-27
1iisrrllaffu.
AN EAST INDIAN TRAGEDY.

A recent tragedy in Kathia
divulges how closely our modern
India treads on the heels of an
ancient world. Among the time
honored customs of the Hindus are
certain methods of constraining the
unrighteous man to do right under
religious pressure, apart from either
physical compulsiOn or tie interven-
ton OF human tribunals. In the bad
times before British rule, when weak
ness had no chance against strength,
and the law was a goad in the
hands of the wrongdOers rather than
a defence for the wronged, such pro-
cesses Of religious duress were often
the sole mode OF obtaining Justice.
The common form was for the in
jured party TO sit fasting at the door
Of the tent or house of his oppressor,
in order to compel payment Of a
debt or to enforce redress from a
high official or prince. AS long as
the sutton abstained from food, pub
lie opinion and religious usage COM
PEELED the debtor or unjust prince
also to fast and shut himself up from
his usual occupations or amuse-
ments. If the suitor died at his
door, the sin of his death rested up
Dharna ceased to be suited under the
reign of British law, and, as it could
be used as a means of eXtOrtiOn, it
was made punishable offence. But
another and even more honored
method survived. Public treaties
and important private or family en-
gagements were formerly guaranteed
by a castle of heralds (Charans),
who became responsible with their
life for the ful6llment of the agree
ment. Our old treaties with the
Rajput princes were negotiated in
this way, and the documents still
bear the impress of the herald's
dagger-the dagger which the herald,
IN the event of his being unable to
cOnstra1n either of the contracting
parties to perform his engagement,
would plunge into his own breast.
The guilt and infamy of thus causing
a herald's death were long regarded
as the best security against breaches
of public faith throughout central
and western India.
Notwithstanding the Bombay
penal regulation of 1927, this system
of Traga has fingered on in various
modified forms, especially among the
taudatory states. If the herald fear
ed that his own single death would
not overawe the wrongdoer, the
proceedings began by the voluntary
sacrifice of beloved or honored mem
Der of his family or caste. Last
weeks mail brought the decision of
the kind. A banker had made a
loan to land-holder in native terri
tory, and took the precaution OF
securing the impress of the herald's
dagger as a guarantee. The land
holder evaded payment, and on the
herald's coming to demand it, he
laughed at him, and referred the
creditor to the civil court. The
herald stood as public surety for the
repayment of the loan. The honor
of his caste was at stake, and he de-
termined to uphold it at whatever
and his brother and their old mother,
after solemn religious ceremonies,
set off once more for the landholder's
house. wilt thou pay or not ?" he
demanded of the debtor. The debtor
tried to temporize. The two
brethren drew their swords, and
their aged mother bent low before
them, with her neck outstretched for
the blow. Il will pay as soon as
the wheat crop is garnered," cried
the alarmed landholder. wilt thou
pay now or not ?" the herald again
demanded. The landholder terror
stricken, began some incoherent
reply. With one sweep of his arm
the herald struck off his mothers
head, and the brothers rushed with
their swords on the defaulting
debtor. Having wounded him, but
not too seriously, they sprinkled
their mothers blood and his own on
his accursed doorposts Further
proceedings were stayed by the
police. The landholder, smitten by
public infamy and the guilt of the
matricide, starved himself to death.
The brothers were not allowed to
complete their sacrifice, but the one
who struck the blow was sentenced
to transportation for life. His
memory will be sung for many
year as the hero of the herald caste
In Gujara.- London Times.
COLLEGE NOTES.