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Art. IV.—On the Law and Legal Practice of Nepál, as regards Familiar Intercourse between a Hindú and an Outcast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2011

Brian Houghton Hodgson
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Extract

The Penal Law of Nepál, a Hindú state, is necessarily founded on the S'ástras; nor is there any thing material in its marvellous crimes, and more marvellous proofs, for which abundance of justificatory texts may not be produced out of the code of Menu, and others equally well known on the plains.

Type
Original Communications
Information
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , January 1834 , pp. 45 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 0000

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References

* The gallant soldiers of these hills cannot endure the tedious ceremonial of Hindúism. When preparing to cook, they satisfy the law by washing their hands and face, instead of their whole bodies; by taking off their turbans, instead of their whole dress. Nor are they at all afraid of being degraded to kúlis if they should carry ten days' provisions, in time of war, on their backs. Et sic de cœteris.

* It is the exclusive duty of one of the highest functionaries of this government (the Dharamádhikari) to prescribe the fitting penance and purificatory rites for each violation of the ceremonial law of purity.

* In allusion to other Papers by Mr. Hodgson.—Ed.

† I hope, ere long, to be able to furnish some curious and interesting particulars of the history, character, and manners of these peculiar races.

* Chaste widows are supposed to be dead to the world, and devoted to religious exercises. Most of them burn with their husband's corpses.

* The objection that may be raised to this law, in reference to our followers, on the ground of its inconsistency with the general principles of justice and humanity, is altogether another question, with which I presume not to meddle.

* A kind of whip.

* This, in capital cases, is exactly the mode of proceeding formerly observed in the Dutch courts, and probably in many others in Europe.—Editor.