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I describe this occurrence, not because it was anything out of
the way, but because it was the only one I have myself
witnessed, and for the truth of whose description I can personally
vouch....
The troops were drawn up before the door of the courthouse.
A band of policemen with new red belts, in which were loaded
revolvers, were stationed round the little group of guilty
peasants, who were waiting the punishment of their misdeeds.
Some way off stood thousands of men, women, and children,
who were there as spectators. When the Governor-General
arrived, he stepped out of his carriage and made a short, sharp
speech, at the end of which he ordered a bench to be fetched.
This was not at first understood, but the police officer who
attended the Governor, and was responsible for seeing the
punishment carried out in an effectual and orderly way,
explained with terse directness that his Excellency wanted a
bench on which a man could be thoroughly well flogged. This
was speedily forthcoming, a bundle of specially-prepared rods
brought forward, and the executioners called to the front.
These were two runaway convicts, since no soldier would
himself be used for this degrading work.
When all was ready, the Governor ordered the first of the
twelve peasants, reported by the landlord as originators of the
riot, to be brought out. The victim was a man in the forties,
the father of a family, whose uprightness had become a
proverb, and who enjoyed the respect and confidence of his
fellow-citizens. He was told to undress and lie on the bench.
The peasant made no attempt to beg for mercy; he knew the
uselessness of such a prayer. Silently he made the sign of the
cross and lay down. Two policemen ran to hold him in his
place. By his side stood a physician, to render medical aid if
necessary.
The convicts spat in their hands, struck a blow through the
air with their rods, and began the flogging. The bench was
seen to be too small, so that it was difficult to hold the writhing,
tortured man upon it. The General ordered a wider bench to
be brought, and a plank fastened to each side. One of the
soldiers saluted and answered, “Aye, aye, sir,” and hastened
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