NOTES AND COMMENTARIES

ON

CHINESE CRIMINAL LAW

AND

COGNATE TOPICS

ON

CHINESE CRIMINAL LAW

AND COGNATE TOPICS.
WITH SPECIAL RELATION TO RULING CASES.

ERNEST ALABASTER,
Of the Inner Temple, Barrister-at-law; antChrist's College, Cambridge, Advanced Student;

Chinese Customs Service.

LONDON:
LUZAC & (;
PUBLISHERS TO THE INDIA OFFICE,
46, Great Russell Street.

1899.

P

180730

:

PRINTED BY E. J. BRILL, AT LEYDEN.

PREFACE

To all intents and purposes foreigners are completely in the dark as to what and how law exists in China. Some persons whose reputation for scholarship stands high would deny the right of the Chinese to any law whatsoever incredible but, to my knowledge, a fact. Nor would it be easy to enlighten them with their limited knowledge of the language.

Practically, however, no epitome of Chinese Law has appeared since the days of Sir GEORGE STAUNTON

nearly a century ago; and his laborious work at its very publication was quite out of date. Some portions of the law have indeed from time to time appeared hidden away in the magazines chiefly; but no complete detailed view has been presented however blurred.