Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Página 703

THE EUROPEAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM
663
who bear an exceptionally high
character l
But the jurisprudence of the Hindus, like the rest of their
political institutions, has undergone a complete change
since a great European Power has dominated the country.
Regular courts of justice have been established at great
expense in every district to protect the rights and settle the
differences of persons of all classes, irrespective of rank,
And this is, undoubtedly, one of the
position, and caste.
greatest benefits that a just and enlightened Government
can bestow on any country. However much opinions may
differ as to the usages of these courts, it seems to me that no
one can deny that they have already been productive of
immense benefit. Nowadays every member of society can
rest assured that, sooner or later, the wrongs under which he
suffers, either in his person or his property, will be redressed,
and he can also rely unreservedly upon the impartiality of
his judges, an advantage he was far from enjoying under the
iron rule of his former despotic masters.
At the same time,
it must be admitted that the present judicial system has by
no means realized all the objects for which it was established.
Indeed, how could any one reasonably expect that such
a huge measure of reform would be sealed with perfection
from its very commencement ? Every creation of the human
brain can always be improved upon when the light of ex-
perience has shown up its defects and revealed the mistakes
that have been committed. For example, the fact cannot
be disguised that the slow and cautious method of procedure
which is customary in a European court of law is by no
means adapted to the majority of Hindus, who from their
straitened circumstances and the nature of their occupations
cannot afford such long and expensive modes of litigation.
Is it likely that they would find it convenient to wait about
at the place where justice is dispensed, it may be for many
unless they are persons
,
What can it teach us ? Professor Max Miiller defends with
the general credibility of the Hindus. He quotes, inter
alios, Sir John Malcolm, who asserted
I have hardly ever known,
where a person did understand the language, or where a calm com-
munication was made to a native of India through a well-informed and
trustworthy medium, that the result did not prove that what had at
first been stated as falsehood had either proceeded from fear or from
misapprehension.'
Ed.
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