His
father had been long dead, and it was for this reason that his offence
came on for trial in the Personal Bereavement Court. The lad, who was
undefended, pleaded that he was young, inexperienced, greatly in awe of
his guardian, and without independent professional advice. "Young man,"
said the judge sternly, "do not talk nonsense. People have no right to
be young, inexperienced, greatly in awe of their guardians, and without
independent professional advice. If by such indiscretions they outrage
the moral sense of their friends, they must expect to suffer
accordingly." He then ordered the prisoner to apologise to his guardian,
and to receive twelve strokes with a cat-of-nine-tails.
But I shall perhaps best convey to the reader an idea of the entire
perversion of thought which exists among this extraordinary people, by
describing the public trial of a man who was accused of pulmonary
consumption--an offence which was punished with death until quite
recently. It did not occur till I had been some months in the country,
and I am deviating from chronological order in giving it here; but I had
perhaps better do so in order that I may exhaust this subject before
proceeding to others.
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