A "THIEF-CATCHER."
In Abyssinia, they have, or had, a very ■picturesque fashion of identifying thieves. There is an official nominated for the purpose in each district. Upon receiving information of a robbery he gives his confidential servant a dose of certain herbs, afterwards a pipe of tobacco. The man drinks and then smokes; in due time he begins to rave and to crawl about on hands and knees. Then the thief catcher puts a rope about his loins, and on all fours he perambulates the neighbourhood, sniffing like a hound ; enters a house at last and goes to sleep upon the floor. That is legal evidence of the owner's guilt. He has to pay the value of the stolen goods or to "Bquare" the thief catcher, which comes to much the same probably. Such in the statement of Dr. Krapf. We sadly admit that we never saw confirmation of it elsewhere,.
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Bibliographic details
Mataura Ensign, Issue 1036, 22 May 1902, Page 3
Word Count
151A "THIEF-CATCHER." Mataura Ensign, Issue 1036, 22 May 1902, Page 3
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