Administrative System of the Marathas c27.s18.5

c27.s18.5

They unanimously declared, that it was the nature of fire to consume, paying no respect to the righteous more than to the wicked; and they also pronounced the practice to be heathenish, and contrary to the Mahomedan law, as well as to reason." ¹⁹ Probably this heathenish practice was confined among the Hindus and was not resorted to, as in the above case, if the parties concerned were Muhammadans. The only logical conclusion possible under the circumstances is that the Southern Muhammadan rulers had simply helped the survival of trials by ordeal in the Deccan and were in no way responsible for its introduction.