leaf of a Coker-nut Tree and dip that into the Oyl, that all may see it is hot.  For it singes, and frizzels up, and roars as if you poured water into hot boyling Oyl.  And so they do likewise to the Cow-dung.  When all are satisfied the Oyl is hot, the two men come and stand on each side of this boyling Oyl; and say, The God of Heaven and Earth is witness, that I did not do this that I am accused of; Or, The four sorts of Gods be witness, That this Land in controversie is mine.  And then the other swears quite contrary.  But first the Accuser alwayes swears.  The Accused also relates his own innocence, or his own Right and Title.  The cloths that their hands were bound up in are taken off.  And immediatly upon using the former words, he dips his two fingers into the hot Oyl, flinging it out three times.  And then goes to the boyling Cow-dung, and does the same.  And so does the other.  Then they tie up their hands again with the cloth, and keep both of them Prisoners till the next day.  When their hands are looked upon, and their fingers-ends rubbed with a cloth, to see if the skin come off.  And from whose fingers the skin comes, he is forsworn.  The Penalty of which is a great forfeiture to the King and great satisfaction to the Adversary.

I am able to testifie, that the fingers of some of these that have thus sworn have been whole from any scald after this use of hot Oyl:  but whether it be their innocence or their Art, that it thus comes to pass, I know not.  The penalty of the breach of the Laws or Customes of this Land is at the pleasure of the Judg, either amercement, or imprisonment, or both.

[How they exact Fines.] For the taking of Fines from men, on whom they are laid, this is their Custom.  The Officers, wheresoever they meet the man, stop him in the place.  Where they take away his Sword and Knife; and make him pull off his Cap and Doublet; and there he sits with his Keepers by him, till he pays the Fine.  And if he delays paying it, they clap a great Stone upon his back; in which condition he must remain till he pays it.  And if he doth not pay, they load him with more Stones, until his compliance prevent further pains.  Another way they have to exact the payment of the Fines laid upon them.  They take some sprigs of Thorns, and draw them between the mans naked Legs till he pays.  But if he remain obstinate they clap him up in chains.

They have an odd usage among them to recover their debts.  Which is this.  They will sometimes go to the house of their debtor with the leaves of Neiingala a certain Plant, which is rank Poyson, and threaten him, that they will eat that Poyson and destroy themselves, unless he will pay him what he ows.  The debtor is much afraid of this, and rather than the other should Poyson himself, will sometimes sell a Child to pay the debt:  Not that the one is tender of the life of the other, but out of care of himself.  For if the party dyes of the Poyson, the other for whose sake the man Poysoned himself must pay a ransome for his life.  By this means also they will sometimes threaten to revenge themselves of those with whom they have any contest, and do it too.  And upon the same intent they will also jump down some steep place or hang or make away with themselves; that so they might bring their Adversary to great dammage.