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SIAM-LAWS TOUCHING AFFAIRS BY LAND.
Sailors robbing Orchards and Gardens.
Again,-cases where sailors, in mooring their vessels, coming up the river or dropping down with the tide, stop in their way, and go ashore, and pick fruit from orchards to eat and the owners thereof forbid them doing so, and they do not regard the prohibition; but draw their knives, and pursue, striking and stabbing the owners, as frequently occurs, should it be ordained that the owners shall seize the sailors, and deliver them to their Consul for punishment, it so happens that the persons who watch the orchards, are but few in number, being only one or two they would not be able to seize the transgressors. Hence it is ordained that the captains of vessels and merchants shall peremptorily forbid their men, whether sailors or servants, going ashore and picking the fruit in the gardens or orchards of the people, owners, or occupants. In case any person go and take fruit unlawfully from orchards, and the owners, guards, or occupants thereof shoot at them with "Bow balls," and they consequently be lacerated, broken, sick, or in pain of whatever kind or degree, no punishment shall be inflicted upon such owners, guards, or occupants. But if the other party cause the owners, or occupants to be wounded, or to die, the Cousul to whom the sailors belong shall adjudicate the case according to the laws of his country.
Art. IV. It is forbidden persons to go about within the walls of the King's palace, or to go up into, or down from the Royal house at the landing of either the Senior or Junior King's palaces, or at the country palaces of the Kings, viz:-Nat'a-udayan, and Wangsuan-Sapra-t'uma-wan, where there is an officer in charge, and a keeper of the gates. It shall not be lawful to enter, until the said officer or gate-keeper shall give his permission, and conduct him within. With such permission one may go in. In case the prohibition be disregarded, or the transgressor go up and down on those Royal landings on the river, or at those garden palaces above-named, and the officer or gate- keeper should seize him, and resistance be make, and the consequence be the death of the offender, no complaint shall be made against the said officer or gate-keeper. If the officer or watchman be killed, the Consul of the man who did the deed, shall adjudicate the case according to the laws of his own country.
These laws have been published both in the Siamese and the English languages, this being the third edition. When causes of complaint shall arise in the future, not provided for by these laws, then will additions be made, as may be found necessary.
And now unto all priests and nanes, and to all the servants of the Government, both military and civil, and to all the officers of Government in the provinces of the first, second, third, and fourth grades, both in the south and north divisions of the Kingdom, and to all people and merchants of the country, and to all foreigners of all languages who come hither to trade in both small and large vessels, going on the canals or on the rivers, to each and all, let these laws be known universally. Let all observe them in every particular.
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