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THE COURTS The kantjas read the statements of each party and then those of the witnesses in their successive order. No one is allowed to speak unless he is addressed. Talking excessively or too loud, quarrelling, or pointing at the judges is punished by a fine. When the case has been thoroughly stated, the witnesses have testified and the evidence has been produced, the judges study the statements and go into deliberation among themselves until they reach a decision. Besides the witnesses and the material evidence, special attention is paid to the physical reaction of the participants during the trial, such as nervousness, change of colour in the face, on hard breathing. Dr. Korn writes that in former times there was a curious official, the batu tumpeng, also to be found at cockfights, whose participation in the procedure was to sit silently watching and listening, so that he could form an unprejudiced opinion. After the judges reached a decision they submitted their verdict to the batu tumpeng and if he did not agree, they had to confer anew. As an absolute neutral, he informed the contestants of the decision. The most important evidence is the swearing of the oath of truth that either one of the two parties (it is never foresee which) will be required to take. After the verdict is announce the judges will specify the type of oath and who shall take it. Then the date is set by the religious calendar. There are " little and " big " oaths, all terrifying in their content, but with varyir effects; some will affect only the person of the perjurer with min, misfortunes, but in the " big " oath all of his descendants, even unto the third generation, will be cursed by dreadful calamities. Although the curse may be averted by obtaining an expensive neutralizing formula from a dishonest high priest, taking an oath is an extremely serious and dangerous performance that must 1 accompanied by elaborate ritual. The man about to swear a pears in the temple with all his relatives, even small children, with his head bare and wearing white clothes, symbol of cleanliness, He sits cross-legged among the offerings, holy water, and incense, facing the penyarikan, who begins to read the text of the oath in a loud, relentless voice, enumerating the calamities that w curse him and his family, who appear anxious and worried.
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