362 A TOUR THROUGH
punishes with theutmost severity. But he
is said, perhaps in compliance with the pre-
judice of his nation, to be much more relax
with regard to the first.
Perhaps Malta is the only country in
the world where duelling is permitted by
law.—As their whole establishment is ori-
ginally founded on the wild and romantic
principles of chivalry, they have ever found
it too inconsistent with those principles to
abolish duelling; but they have laid it under
such restrictions as greatly to lessen its dan-
ger. These are curious enough.—The
duellists are obliged to decide their quarrel
in one particular street of the city ; and if
they presume to fight any where elle, they
are liable to the rigour of the law. But
what is not less singular, and much more
in their favour, they are obliged under the
most severe penalties to put up their sword,
when ordered so to do, by a ivoman> a frleflt
or a knight,
Under