The People

Customs of Lakher Society

Lakher System of Trial

Assault

Assaults were common mostly resulting from drunkenness. Assault would be punishable only when blood was drawn due to an attack. Then also it would be punishable only by vopia which would be taken by the chief and his machas.

Eavesdropping

Eavesdropping was an offence punishable with the fine of a gong. Repeating what was overheard would be punishable with the fine of a mithun.

House Trespass

One was within one's right to forcibly evict any person trespassing into one's house. If the house owner sustained injury in turning out the intruder, the latter would be fined a vopia. In case of a wife running away and taking shelter in another man's house, the husband could forcibly enter that house to recover his wife.

Defamation

The Lakhers had a fine sense of respect for fair name. Hence defamation was punished.  It was defamation to call a  free man a slave or accuse one of adultery of theft or sorcery.  Trivial accusations made while one was drunk would generally be excused if apologies were tendered.  Defamation was generally punishable by a fine of an earthen pot, racha, or cash equivalent of  ten rupees.

Civil Debts

If one was not in a position to recover the dues from a debtor, one could sell the right to collect the debt to the chief or any other influential person who would pay some amount for the dues and keep the balance to himself, when it was collected.

Offences Relating to Women

In Lakher society, women were treated with equality, dignity and respect.  A maid men was free to choose her boy friend and would in most cases marry him and remain a faithful wife. Although Lakhers would allow free mixing of boys and girls, children born out of wedlock were not favourably viewed. The father of such a child would have to pay compensation, riathama, to the mother, which was generally equivalent to angkia, the bride price.  Till three years of age the child would be under care of the mother, thereafter the father could claim the child; otherwise the child would belong to the mother's brother. An illegitimate child would always be treated as low in status.  Such a person would inherit property of the father only in default of other heirs and would not be able to participate in the clam's rituals.

Although there would be free mixing, courtship was guided by certain codes of conduct.  The young men would be sleeping in the houses of the girl friend's parents. But sleeping in the parent's bed would be punishable by a fine of vopia. Although sleeping under the same roof, the boy and girl are not allowed to sleep together. Taking liberties with the girl, while asleep, would be punishable.  Rape was very rare.  It was treated as very disgraceful. The punishment for rape varied, depending on whether the victim was unmarried or married.

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