.MTA1Mw.NzA3MDM

523 and 14 penciled at top of page.

The punishment of criminals. The brother, or nearest male relative, was the avenger of blood. + yet they had four cities of refuge, or towns set apart for the protection of those who unintentionally slew some of their people. And beside these four towns, the door yard of every priest was a refuge; and if the supposed criminal only came in sight of the high priest, the avenger of blood could not touch him. In case a man fled to a priest, he blew his trumpet (or as afterwards) directed his messenger to follow, and call the town together, & in their presence declared the man acquitted. But when on farther examination, it appeared that the person accused, was really guilty, he was sent to some battle to be killed, or exposed some other way to the shafts of death, so as to be taken generally soon from the earth; though it is said that an old man now dead, said, when living, that he had known or heard of two individuals, supposed to be guilty, who had escaped, with their lives, all the snares laid for them and were at last let alone, and suffered to live. The towns of refuge were free for any Indians of the tribe, or strangers from other tribes, or captives. Nutsawi