Directory_and_Chronicle_1877 — Page 797

360

SIAM-LAWS TOUCHING AFFAIRS BY LAND.

Whereupon the Lord Mayor of Bangkok will publish this so that the people may understand that on such and such a day such and such a party will fire cannon for the purpose specified. Thus doing, the Royal servants an all the people will not have the occasion to be in doubt of the matter.

Again, if any one would fire small arms in the vicinity of the palaces of Princes, or at the dwelling of the officers of government, great or small, for the purpose of training children, grand-children, and ot er relatives or servants to shoot at a target, it is allowed. But a written notice must in every instance first be given to one of the officers above-named, of the purpose of such an act. This notice may be given on the same day that the exercise is to take place. An officer of the military department will then be sent to examine the target, to see that it is out of the way of the people passing; so that when the exercise takes place no person shall be shot.

Shooting Game with small Arms.

Again, if any one would shoot birds, or other animals, Le may do it in the woods, and in the fields, where there is no temple or village, or home (for man), and where there is no thoroughfare for the people. As regards shooting on temple grounds, or in villages, or the homes of men, or by the thoroughfares, sometimes the persons engaged are trusty persons; sometimes they are drunken, and will sometimes, unawares, shoot and wound or kill persons. And when the person who did the deed is taken and brought before the court for trial according to law, he pleads that he had no intention of doing it; and consequently long disputes arise, so that it is very difficult to settle such questions. Such firearms are instruments of death, and will kill at a long distance, and beyond the reach of the eye of him who uses them, as when bushes or the siding of a house intercepts the vision where the ball can enter and kill.

When and where it is not allowed to shoot Game.

For this cause a law has been made forbidding to shoot small firearms by the temples, or villages, or homes of the people. Even in the fields and woods it is forbidden to shoot at elephants, horses, cattle, buffaloes, and other animals, which their owners are feeding. If a man disregard this law, and wilfully shoot at random, he shall be fined a sum not less than one hundred and sixty, and not more than four hundred Ticals, according as he shoots little or much.

And, moreover, if he kill an elephant, or horse, or ox, or buffalo, or other animal which their owners are nourishing, damages shall be estimated according to the worth of the animal killed.

Shooting men by Accident.

If a Siamese subject shoot a person, wounding or killing him, he shall be adjudged according to the old law of the land. If a foreigner shoot a person, and wound or kill him, the Consul to whom the man belongs shall adjudge the case according to the law of his own country.

Sailors not allowed to go ashore with Arms.

Art. III.-Masters of vessels and merchants who come to live in Siam, shall forbid their sailors or other hired servants, whether Siamese, Chinese, or other foreigners, white or colored, to take with them instruments of death, as short or long guns, or knives, when they go about on the rivers, or canals, or on land. If these servants have business leading them to make purchases, they shall not take weapons of death with them, but they shall go with bands free from all these. And when they go, let a serang or comprador of the employer go with them to watch over them. In case a master of a vessel, or merchant do not enjoin this upon his sailors, or his other servants, Siamese, Chinese, or other foreigners, white or colored, and leave them to go about the rivers and canals with instruments of death about their persons in the day time or night time, and they fall into contentions, and an officer of Government or a householder shall assist in seizing said offenders for the purpose of delivering them over to their Cousul for a judication, and they do not allow themselves to be seized without resistance, and a fight ensue between them, and wounds be made upon their persons of whatever kind, no punishment shall be inflicted upon those who seized them. If they shall wound or kill (any of the party who seized them) the Consul to whose jurisdiction they belong shall adjudge the case according to the law (of his own country).