.

278. A woman incorrigibly wicked, one who has slain a man, one who has
destroyed dams,[362] shall, unless she be in a state of pregnancy, be
thrown into [deep] water with a [heavy] stone tied to her.

279. A woman who is a poisoner, or an incendiary, one who has slain
her husband, her _guru_, or her child, shall be put to death by bulls,
her ears, hands, nose, and lips being cut off.[363]

280. If a man be slain, and it be not known who did the deed, his
sons, kindred, wives, also women who are in habits of illicit
intercourse, are to be separately and without delay questioned,--as
to, whether any quarrel has occurred,

281. whether the deceased was addicted to women, or fond of what is
costly, or seeking gain,[364] also with whom he had gone--or, the
people in the neighbourhood of the place where the murder occurred
shall be examined, by gentle means.

282. Incendiaries of fields, houses, forests, villages,
pasture-grounds or granaries, also one who has intercourse with the
wife of the king, are to be burned in a straw-fire.

283. A man is to be apprehended for adultery, if [found] with another
man's wife in mutual grasping of hair or with recent love-marks, or
when both admit [their fault],

284. or [if the man be found] toying with her girdle, with her
breasts, her upper garment, her thigh, or her hair, or conversing with
her at an unfitting place or hour, or on the same spot with her.[365]

285. The wife, if [so acting] after express prohibition, shall pay one
hundred _panas_ fine; the man, two hundred _panas_: if both have
been expressly prohibited [so demeaning themselves], their punishment
shall be the same as for adultery.[366]

286. For adultery with a woman of equal cast, a man incurs the highest
fine; with a woman of lower cast, the middle fine; with a woman of
higher cast, [the penalty is] death,[367] and the woman is to have her
ears, &c.[368] cut off.

287. If one make off with a virgin decked out [for the bridal], he
shall pay the highest fine; if she be not so circumstanced, then the
lowest fine. Thus it is, if the virgin be of equal cast: if she be of
higher cast, [the penalty of] death is ordained.

288. In the case of a virgin consenting and of inferior cast, no
offence [is committed]; otherwise, there is a fine.[369] For ravishing
her, the man's hand shall be cut off: if the virgin be of the highest
cast, [the penalty is] death.

289. Whoso speaks disparagingly of a woman shall forf