Page:Ancient Accounts of India and China.djvu/70

leafed by the Governor's Order, and Proclamation is made, That ſuch a one, the Son of ſuch a one, has conſumed the Subſtance of ſuch a one } and that if he has any Effects in the Hands of any Perſon, Lands, Reverſions, or Wealth in any other Shape whatſoever, it muſt be made known with the Term of a Month. In the mean time, the Bankrupt is bamboo'd on the Backſide, if Diſcoverey is made of any Effects of his, and at the ſame time is upbraided with having been a Month in Priſon, eating and drinking, tho' he had wherewithal to ſatisfy his Creditors. He is chaſtisſed in the ſame manner, whether he makes Declaration of his Effects or not. They reproach him that his Buſineſs is to get the Subſtance of private perſons into his Hnads, and embezzle it; and that he ought not ſo to defraud thoſe he had dealins with, by ſtripping them of their Property. But after all, if they cannot diſcover him to have been guilty of any Fraud, and if it is proved to the Prince that the Man has nothing in the World, the Creditors are called in, and receive a part of their Debt out of the Treaſury of the Bagbun (this is the ordinary Title fo the Emperor of China and ſignifies The Son of Heaven; but we commonly pronounce it after a different manner and call hiim Magbun.) Then it is publickly forbiddy to buy of, or ſell anything to this Man upon pain of Death, and ſo he cannot defraud any of his creditors by concealing their Money. If diſcovery be made that he has any Sums in