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XIX, 21.
BOUNDARY DISPUTES.
353
15. The same rule holds good in all suits concerning immovable property. If their statements do not agree, they shall be made to pay the highest fine.
16. Supposing a piece of land to have been taken from a village belonging to one man, and given to another man, either by a large river or by the king, what should be decided in that case?
17. The land abandoned by a river or granted by the king belongs to him who receives it. Otherwise, there would be no acquisition through fate or the king among men.
18. Loss and gain and life among men depend on the act of fate and of the king; therefore, in all affairs, what is effected by them must not be rescinded.
19. When a river has been fixed as the boundary line between two villages, it shall never be removed, on account of loss or gain arising (from that river to either village). He who removes it, is liable to punishment.
20. The encroachment (of a river) on one side produces an increase of land elsewhere in banks of rivers; that (increase) must not be taken from him (who gets it).
21. When land is carried away by the swift course
15. Vîram. p. 457; Smritik.
16-23. Ratn. pp. 216, 217; Viv. pp. 123, 124; Viram. pp. 461, 462. The second half of 19 is read as follows in the Vîramitrodaya, '(The river) effects gain or loss, according as people are lucky or unlucky.' This reading may have crept in from 16. For taulyâ, I read kâlyâ, with Vîram.
21. Such a tilled piece of land shall be made over to the previous owner till the harvest is over. When the harvest is over, the previous rule (20) holds good. Vîram.
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