CAFFRE LAWYERS

Temuka Leader, Issue 269, 6 July 1880, Page 2

CAFFRE LAWYERS

Some of our young New Zealand law-yers-might study with advantage the i following curious law -case, related by - jj Fleming, the African traveller | A verdict was-required in the case of a i Caffre, who, as plaintiff, brought on tha • trial, assorting that an ox of ‘ his had been j stabbed, and a portion eaten by six Gsflres, t who were placed ■■ before the bar as priso- | ners They pleaded “ Not guilty,” on the \ ground that the' ox had been gored by \ another ox, and having died from tha wound, they had eaten it, thinking it no harm The ease caused great excitement in the tribe, and the shrewdest ‘amapakali (Caffre lawyers) werc.emploved by the chief in the trial After a careful bearing 5/ the senior prisoner made a very eloquent d’ fence, and- urged therein that from tha length of the won nd it was quite impossible that a man could have Inflicted it ;Ha was heard throughout patiently, but whan- .. he finished, an old amupakati cross ax* j aniinod hitn thus : *, . Q . Where did the goring ox s tail grow 1 . , ■ 1 3 1 ? A: On Its rump Q ; How did it grow there, up or dew®, , - or to one side ?- ‘ ; ‘i; A: Down Q : Where .did its horns grow? ■ . A: On its head j 1\ Q . How did they grow, up os down,or at one.side 1 ’ . ’ . ■ ■ A : Up 2 t I; Q : If then that ox gored the other, to Uo so he would have to put his head down i and tear up, would he not 1 A: Yes , , , Q : He could not tear down, could he I A: No . ' J . . q . Well then examine the wound and ■> - see where the first incision was made— at the top or at the bottom 1 A: With great reluctance—The wound f ia largest at the bottom Finding.—The ox was stabbed, m*. gored : the prisoners are guilty * Sentence-Each to be fined two cowfc rf This judgment was received with great applause