CURIOUS MODE OF RECOVERING DEBTS.
In Ceylon 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 neungala, a certain plant which is rank poison, and threaten him that they will eat that poison and destroy themselves unless he will pay him what he owes. The debtor is much afraid of this, and rather than the other should poison 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 for himself; for if the person dies of the poison, the other, for whose sake the other poisoned himself, must pay a ransom for his own life. By this means also they will sometimes threaten to revenge themselves lo those with whom they have any contest, and do it, too. And, upon the same intent they will also jump down a steep place, or hang, or make away with themselves, so that they might bring their | adversary, to great damage.
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Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3303, 23 July 1879, Page 3
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183CURIOUS MODE OF RECOVERING DEBTS. Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3303, 23 July 1879, Page 3
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