| caption: |
Chapter Two. The Social Structure and its Units |
| caption: |
judgement and justice, role of Angs |
| text: |
In Niaunu the chief, supported by the men of great Ang rank, was in control of village affairs. When a breach of customary law occurred in the village, he sent two messengers, who were never of chiefly rank, to apprehend the culprit. Then he summoned all the men of great and small Ang class as well as three commoners who held office as priests and ritual experts. Presiding over this gathering, the chief questioned the offender and witnesses, collected evidence, and consulted with the members of his council. Punishments were usually in the form of fines, and a chief also had the right to fine any man who had refused to obey his orders. An offender who had been warned and fined several times, but had failed to mend his ways, could be sentenced to death. At it was taboo to kill a man or woman of the same village with a weapon, criminals under sentence of death were bound and thrown into a river to drown. Members of the great Ang class were not exempt from such punishment if the seriousness of their crime warranted the death sentence. |
