of the property, if it shall prove to be in his possession.  If the owner be absent, the searcher may counter-seal the property which is under seal, and place watchers.  If the owner remain absent more than five days, the searcher shall take the magistrates, and open the sealed property, and seal it up again in their presence.  The recovery of goods disputed, except in the case of lands and houses, (about which there can be no dispute in our state), is to be barred by time.  The public and unimpeached use of anything for a year in the city, or for five years in the country, or the private possession and domestic use for three years in the city, or for ten years in the country, is to give a right of ownership.  But if the possessor have the property in a foreign country, there shall be no bar as to time.  The proceedings of any trial are to be void, in which either the parties or the witnesses, whether bond or free, have been prevented by violence from attending:—­if a slave be prevented, the suit shall be invalid; or if a freeman, he who is guilty of the violence shall be imprisoned for a year, and shall also be liable to an action for kidnapping.  If one competitor forcibly prevents another from attending at the games, the other may be inscribed as victor in the temples, and the first, whether victor or not, shall be liable to an action for damages.  The receiver of stolen goods shall undergo the same punishment as the thief.  The receiver of an exile shall be punished with death.  A man ought to have the same friends and enemies as his country; and he who makes war or peace for himself shall be put to death.  And if a party in the state make war or peace, their leaders shall be indicted by the generals, and, if convicted, they shall be put to death.  The ministers and officers of a country ought not to receive gifts, even as the reward of good deeds.  He who disobeys shall die.

With a view to taxation a man should have his property and income valued:  and the government may, at their discretion, levy the tax upon the annual return, or take a portion of the whole.

The good man will offer moderate gifts to the Gods; his land or hearth cannot be offered, because they are already consecrated to all Gods.  Gold and silver, which arouse envy, and ivory, which is taken from the dead body of an animal, are unsuitable offerings; iron and brass are materials of war.  Wood and stone of a single piece may be offered; also woven work which has not occupied one woman more than a month in making.  White is a colour which is acceptable to the Gods; figures of birds and similar offerings are the best of gifts, but they must be such as the painter can execute in a day.