LawMerchantsLaw

Subjects contained herein:

Merchant Law, general statement

Merchant Magistrates

Merchant Law and the Sardar Fairs

Weights and Measures

Stockades

Wharfage and Registration

Contracts

Patents and Copyrights

Slaves

Branding and Collaring

Self pronouncement being a slave

Permission of enslavement and an Earth Girl

Permission of enslavement and a fallen city

Cities under Merchant Laws

Merchant Law, general statement

Most Gorean law is municipal law, restricted to each individual city. But, there is one type of law that does extend coverage over the various cities of Gor. This is Merchant Law, a joint legal agreement between the various Merchant Castes of different cities. Merchant Law permits commerce to exist much more easily on Gor. The books do not provide a comprehensive description of everything covered under Merchant Law. But, Merchant law does not cover all aspects of commerce.

Merchant Magistrates

To administer and enforce Merchant law, there are specific Merchant magistrates. These magistrates belong to the Merchant Caste and not the Scribe Caste. They are separate from the other magistrates. Merchant magistrates wear white robes, trimmed with gold and purple. They too have the power to make some legal decisions without the need for a formal trial.

Merchant Law and the Sardar Fairs

Aspects of Merchant Law are most often decided at the Sardar Fairs, when Merchants from all over Gor meet to discuss such issues. Merchants, in effect, arrange and administer the four great fairs that take place each year near the Sardar Mountains. It is here that Merchant Law is drafted and stabilized.

“The fairs incidentally are governed by Merchant Law and supported by booth rents and taxes levied on the items exchanged. The commercial facilities of these fairs, from money changing to general banking, are the finest I know of on Gor, save those in Ar’s Street of Coins, and letters of credit are accepted and loans negotiated, though often at usurious rates, with what seems reckless indifference. Yet perhaps this is not so puzzling, for the Gorean cities will, within their own walls, enforce the Merchant Law when pertinent, even against their own citizens. If they did not, of course, the fairs would be closed to the citizens of that city.” Priest-Kings of Gor, Page 10

“There is a saying on Gor, “Gold has no caste.” It is a saying of which the merchants are fond. Indeed, secretly among themselves, I have heard, they regard themselves as the highest caste on Gor, though they would not say so for fear of rousing the indignation of other castes. There would be something, of course, to be said for such a claim, for the merchants are often indeed in their way, brave, shrewd, skilled men, making long journeys, venturing their goods, risking caravans, negotiating commercial agreements, among themselves developing and enforcing a body of Merchant Law, the only common legal arrangements existing among the Gorean cities.

Merchants also, in effect, arrange and administer the four great fairs that take place each year near the Sardar Mountains. I say “in effect” because the fairs are nominally under the direction of a committee of the Caste of Initiates, which, however, largely contents itself with its ceremonies and sacrifices, and is only too happy to delegate the complex management of those vast, commercial phenomena, the Sardar Fairs, to members of the lowly, much-despised Caste of Merchants, without which, incidentally, the fairs most likely could not exist, certainly not at any rate in their current form.” Nomads of Gor, Page 84

Weight and Measures

Weights and measures are standardized throughout the Gorean cities by Merchant Law.

“The Weight and the Stone, incidentally, are standardized throughout the Gorean cities by Merchant Law, the only common body of law existing among the cities. The official “Stone,” actually a solid metal cylinder, is kept, by

the way, near the Sardar. Four times a year, on a given day in each of the four great fairs held annually near the Sardar, it is brought forth with scales, that merchants from whatever city may test their own standard “Stone” against it.

As in the case of the official “Stone”, so, too, at the Sardar is a metal rod, which determines the Merchant Foot, or Gorean foot, as I have called it.” Raiders of Gor, Page 127 and 128

The Merchant Council of Tarnburg holds a Merchant's Foot and Stone in the Chamber of the Council in the Mail Hall and are available for Merchants to verify their own personal measuring devices.

Stockades

Certain defensible stockades on main trade routes are governed under Merchant Law, legislated and revised, and upheld, at the Sardar Fairs. “The Merchants have, in the last few years, on certain trade routes, between Ar and Ko-ro-ba, and between Tor and Ar, established palisaded compounds, defensible stockades.

Various cities, through their own Merchant Castes, lease land for these stockades and, for their fees, keep their garrisons, usually men of their own cities, supplied. The stockades are governed under Merchant Law, legislated and revised, and upheld, at the Sardar Fairs.” Captive of Gor, Page 219

Wharfage and Registration

Some free port cities like Lydius, Helmutsport, Schendi and Bazi also subscribe to Merchant Law which controls things like wharfage and proof of registration.

“The representative of the Merchants, to whom I reported my business, and to whom I paid for wharfage, asked no questions. He did not even demand the proof of registration of the Tesephone in Tabor. The Merchants, who control Lydius, under merchant law, for it is a free port, like Helmutsport, and Schendi and Bazi, are more interested in having their port heavily trafficked than strictly policed.” Hunters of Gor, Page 43

Contracts

Businesses, too, complying with Merchant Law are aided in acquiring contracts, even with both sides of a conflict at the same time.

“He himself resided, I understood, in Telnus, the capital of Cos, where his company had its headquarters. His work chains, however, were politically neutral, understood under merchant law as hirable instruments. They might, accordingly, and sometimes did, work for both sides in given conflicts.”
Dancer of Gor, Page 322

Patents and Copyrights

And yet, Merchant law has been unsuccessful, in introducing such things as patents and copyrights between cities.

“Merchant law has been unsuccessful, as yet, in introducing such things as patents and copyrights on Gor. Such things do exist in municipal law on Gor but the jurisdictions involved are, of course, local.” Magicians of Gor, Page 394

Slaves

What receives the most attention throughout the books, though, is how Merchant Law pertains to slaves. Long before Tarl coming to Gor and for about a generation, a series of wars, loosely referred to as the Slave Wars had occurred. Out of these wars grew much of the Merchant Law pertaining to slaves.

“She was referring to a series of wars, loosely referred to as the Slave Wars, which occurred among various cities in the middle latitudes of Gor, off and on, over a period of approximately a generation. They had occurred long before my coming to Gor. Although large-scale slaving was involved in these wars, and was doubtless a sufficient condition for them, hence the name, other considerations, as would be expected, were often involved, as well, such as the levying of tribute and the control of trade routes. Out of the Slave Wars grew much of the merchant law pertaining to slaves.”
Vagabonds of Gor, Page 272

Branding and Collaring

Probably foremost among these has to do with the brand and collar. A prisoner is not the same as being a slave. “I have been neither branded nor collared, nor have I performed a gesture of submission.” Merchant Law prescribes the brand and collar. and, while some men do not do so this, it is contrary to the laws of most cities and to Merchant Law, as well. Following the recommendations of Merchant Law, the three standard marking places for the brand are the thighs and the lower left abdomen.

“Girls such as I must expect to be marked,” she said. “It is in accord with the recommendations of merchant law.” Kajira of Gor, Page 46

“You’re going to be branded,” he said, “and put in a collar.” I regarded him with disbelief. “But so too, will the other girls,” he said. “You will all have your brands and collars.” I could not speak “Such things are prescribed by merchant law,” he said. Dancer of Gor, Page 62

“Some fellows do not brand their slaves,” I said. “That is stupid!” she said.
“It is also contrary to the laws of most cities,” I said, “and to merchant law, as well.” Vagabonds of Gor, Page 188

“But her left thigh worn no brand. Her right thigh, too, as I soon noted, did not wear the slave mark, nor did her lower left abdomen. These are the three standard marking places, following the recommendations of Merchant Law, for the marking of Kajirae, with the left thigh being, in practice, the overwhelmingly favored brand site.” Fighting Slave of Gor, Page 312

“The thighs and the lower left abdomen are the brand sites recommended by Merchant Law.” Fighting Slave of Gor, Page 349

Self pronouncement being a slave

Merchant Law upholds the self-pronouncement that one is slave, after which it is binding.

“In the case of the girl, Rowena, of course, as she was already a self-pronounced slave, the brand and collar were little more than identificatory formalities. Nonetheless she would wear them. They would be fixed visibly and clearly upon her. This is in accord with the prescriptions of merchant law.” Players of Gor, Page 36

Permission of enslavement and Earth Girl

Merchant Law defines permissions of enslavement, at least two of which are making one a slave when not sharing a Home Stone.

“You understand further, of course,” said he, “that under Gorean merchant law, which is the only law commonly acknowledged binding between cities, that you stand under separate permissions of enslavement. First, were you of Ar, it would be my right, could I be successful, to make of you a slave, for we share no Home Stone. Secondly, though you speak of yourself as the Lady Elicia of Ar, of Six Towers, you are, in actuality, Miss Elicia Nevins of the planet Earth. You are an Earth girl and thus stand within a general permission of enslavement, fair beauty quarry to any Gorean male whatsoever.” Slave Girl of Gor, Page 394

Permission of enslavement and the fall of a city

“The legal point, I think, is interesting. Sometimes, in the fall of a city, girls who have been enslaved, girls formerly of the now victorious city, will be freed. Technically, according to Merchant Law, which serves as the arbiter in such intermunicipal matters, the girls become briefly the property of their rescuers, else how could they be freed? Further, according to Merchant Law, the rescuer has no obligation to free the girl. In having been enslaved she has lost all claim to her former Home Stone.” Explorers of Gor, Page 409

Cities under Merchant Laws

Tabor: Governed according to merchant law. A free port, allied to no city or Ubarate.

Teletus: The largest of the central "exchange islands". Governed according to merchant law. A free port, allied to no city or Ubarate.

Lydius: A northern free port, neutrally aligned. Govered by merchant law rather than by civil law, and loyal to no Ubarate. Located at the juncture of the Laurius River and Thassa (the sea). A large trade town, it handles much of the distribution of the raw materials harvested from the great Northern Forests, and is a major supply port for both northern and southern shipping






		Subjects contained herein: Merchant Law, general statement Merchant Magistrates Merchant Law and the Sardar Fairs Weights and Measures Stockades Wharfage and Registration Contracts Patents and Copyrights Slaves Branding and Collaring Self pronouncement being a slave Permission of enslavement and an Earth Girl Permission of enslavement and a fallen city Cities under Merchant Laws Merchant Law, general statement Most Gorean law is municipal law, restricted to each individual city. But, there is one type of law that does extend coverage over the various cities of Gor. This is Merchant Law, a joint legal agreement between the various Merchant Castes of different cities. Merchant Law permits commerce to exist much more easily on Gor. The books do not provide a comprehensive description of everything covered under Merchant Law. But, Merchant law does not cover all aspects of commerce. Merchant Magistrates To administer and enforce Merchant law, there are specific Merchant magistrates. These magistrates belong to the Merchant Caste and not the Scribe Caste. They are separate from the other magistrates. Merchant magistrates wear white robes, trimmed with gold and purple. They too have the power to make some legal decisions without the need for a formal trial. Merchant Law and the Sardar Fairs Aspects of Merchant Law are most often decided at the Sardar Fairs, when Merchants from all over Gor meet to discuss such issues. Merchants, in effect, arrange and administer the four great fairs that take place each year near the Sardar Mountains. It is here that Merchant Law is drafted and stabilized. “The fairs incidentally are governed by Merchant Law and supported by booth rents and taxes levied on the items exchanged. The commercial facilities of these fairs, from money changing to general banking, are the finest I know of on Gor, save those in Ar’s Street of Coins, and letters of credit are accepted and loans negotiated, though often at usurious rates, with what seems reckless indifference. Yet perhaps this is not so puzzling, for the Gorean cities will, within their own walls, enforce the Merchant Law when pertinent, even against their own citizens. If they did not, of course, the fairs would be closed to the citizens of that city.” Priest-Kings of Gor, Page 10 “There is a saying on Gor, “Gold has no caste.” It is a saying of which the merchants are fond. Indeed, secretly among themselves, I have heard, they regard themselves as the highest caste on Gor, though they would not say so for fear of rousing the indignation of other castes. There would be something, of course, to be said for such a claim, for the merchants are often indeed in their way, brave, shrewd, skilled men, making long journeys, venturing their goods, risking caravans, negotiating commercial agreements, among themselves developing and enforcing a body of Merchant Law, the only common legal arrangements existing among the Gorean cities. Merchants also, in effect, arrange and administer the four great fairs that take place each year near the Sardar Mountains. I say “in effect” because the fairs are nominally under the direction of a committee of the Caste of Initiates, which, however, largely contents itself with its ceremonies and sacrifices, and is only too happy to delegate the complex management of those vast, commercial phenomena, the Sardar Fairs, to members of the lowly, much-despised Caste of Merchants, without which, incidentally, the fairs most likely could not exist, certainly not at any rate in their current form.” Nomads of Gor, Page 84 Weight and Measures Weights and measures are standardized throughout the Gorean cities by Merchant Law. “The Weight and the Stone, incidentally, are standardized throughout the Gorean cities by Merchant Law, the only common body of law existing among the cities. The official “Stone,” actually a solid metal cylinder, is kept, by the way, near the Sardar. Four times a year, on a given day in each of the four great fairs held annually near the Sardar, it is brought forth with scales, that merchants from whatever city may test their own standard “Stone” against it. As in the case of the official “Stone”, so, too, at the Sardar is a metal rod, which determines the Merchant Foot, or Gorean foot, as I have called it.” Raiders of Gor, Page 127 and 128 The Merchant Council of Tarnburg holds a Merchant's Foot and Stone in the Chamber of the Council in the Mail Hall and are available for Merchants to verify their own personal measuring devices. Stockades Certain defensible stockades on main trade routes are governed under Merchant Law, legislated and revised, and upheld, at the Sardar Fairs. “The Merchants have, in the last few years, on certain trade routes, between Ar and Ko-ro-ba, and between Tor and Ar, established palisaded compounds, defensible stockades. Various cities, through their own Merchant Castes, lease land for these stockades and, for their fees, keep their garrisons, usually men of their own cities, supplied. The stockades are governed under Merchant Law, legislated and revised, and upheld, at the Sardar Fairs.” Captive of Gor, Page 219 Wharfage and Registration Some free port cities like Lydius, Helmutsport, Schendi and Bazi also subscribe to Merchant Law which controls things like wharfage and proof of registration. “The representative of the Merchants, to whom I reported my business, and to whom I paid for wharfage, asked no questions. He did not even demand the proof of registration of the Tesephone in Tabor. The Merchants, who control Lydius, under merchant law, for it is a free port, like Helmutsport, and Schendi and Bazi, are more interested in having their port heavily trafficked than strictly policed.” Hunters of Gor, Page 43 Contracts Businesses, too, complying with Merchant Law are aided in acquiring contracts, even with both sides of a conflict at the same time. “He himself resided, I understood, in Telnus, the capital of Cos, where his company had its headquarters. His work chains, however, were politically neutral, understood under merchant law as hirable instruments. They might, accordingly, and sometimes did, work for both sides in given conflicts.” Dancer of Gor, Page 322 Patents and Copyrights And yet, Merchant law has been unsuccessful, in introducing such things as patents and copyrights between cities. “Merchant law has been unsuccessful, as yet, in introducing such things as patents and copyrights on Gor. Such things do exist in municipal law on Gor but the jurisdictions involved are, of course, local.” Magicians of Gor, Page 394 Slaves What receives the most attention throughout the books, though, is how Merchant Law pertains to slaves. Long before Tarl coming to Gor and for about a generation, a series of wars, loosely referred to as the Slave Wars had occurred. Out of these wars grew much of the Merchant Law pertaining to slaves. “She was referring to a series of wars, loosely referred to as the Slave Wars, which occurred among various cities in the middle latitudes of Gor, off and on, over a period of approximately a generation. They had occurred long before my coming to Gor. Although large-scale slaving was involved in these wars, and was doubtless a sufficient condition for them, hence the name, other considerations, as would be expected, were often involved, as well, such as the levying of tribute and the control of trade routes. Out of the Slave Wars grew much of the merchant law pertaining to slaves.” Vagabonds of Gor, Page 272 Branding and Collaring Probably foremost among these has to do with the brand and collar. A prisoner is not the same as being a slave. “I have been neither branded nor collared, nor have I performed a gesture of submission.” Merchant Law prescribes the brand and collar. and, while some men do not do so this, it is contrary to the laws of most cities and to Merchant Law, as well. Following the recommendations of Merchant Law, the three standard marking places for the brand are the thighs and the lower left abdomen. “Girls such as I must expect to be marked,” she said. “It is in accord with the recommendations of merchant law.” Kajira of Gor, Page 46 “You’re going to be branded,” he said, “and put in a collar.” I regarded him with disbelief. “But so too, will the other girls,” he said. “You will all have your brands and collars.” I could not speak “Such things are prescribed by merchant law,” he said. Dancer of Gor, Page 62 “Some fellows do not brand their slaves,” I said. “That is stupid!” she said. “It is also contrary to the laws of most cities,” I said, “and to merchant law, as well.” Vagabonds of Gor, Page 188 “But her left thigh worn no brand. Her right thigh, too, as I soon noted, did not wear the slave mark, nor did her lower left abdomen. These are the three standard marking places, following the recommendations of Merchant Law, for the marking of Kajirae, with the left thigh being, in practice, the overwhelmingly favored brand site.” Fighting Slave of Gor, Page 312 “The thighs and the lower left abdomen are the brand sites recommended by Merchant Law.” Fighting Slave of Gor, Page 349 Self pronouncement being a slave Merchant Law upholds the self-pronouncement that one is slave, after which it is binding. “In the case of the girl, Rowena, of course, as she was already a self-pronounced slave, the brand and collar were little more than identificatory formalities. Nonetheless she would wear them. They would be fixed visibly and clearly upon her. This is in accord with the prescriptions of merchant law.” Players of Gor, Page 36 Permission of enslavement and Earth Girl Merchant Law defines permissions of enslavement, at least two of which are making one a slave when not sharing a Home Stone. “You understand further, of course,” said he, “that under Gorean merchant law, which is the only law commonly acknowledged binding between cities, that you stand under separate permissions of enslavement. First, were you of Ar, it would be my right, could I be successful, to make of you a slave, for we share no Home Stone. Secondly, though you speak of yourself as the Lady Elicia of Ar, of Six Towers, you are, in actuality, Miss Elicia Nevins of the planet Earth. You are an Earth girl and thus stand within a general permission of enslavement, fair beauty quarry to any Gorean male whatsoever.” Slave Girl of Gor, Page 394 Permission of enslavement and the fall of a city “The legal point, I think, is interesting. Sometimes, in the fall of a city, girls who have been enslaved, girls formerly of the now victorious city, will be freed. Technically, according to Merchant Law, which serves as the arbiter in such intermunicipal matters, the girls become briefly the property of their rescuers, else how could they be freed? Further, according to Merchant Law, the rescuer has no obligation to free the girl. In having been enslaved she has lost all claim to her former Home Stone.” Explorers of Gor, Page 409 Cities under Merchant Laws Tabor: Governed according to merchant law. A free port, allied to no city or Ubarate. Teletus: The largest of the central "exchange islands". Governed according to merchant law. A free port, allied to no city or Ubarate. Lydius: A northern free port, neutrally aligned. Govered by merchant law rather than by civil law, and loyal to no Ubarate. Located at the juncture of the Laurius River and Thassa (the sea). A large trade town, it handles much of the distribution of the raw materials harvested from the great Northern Forests, and is a major supply port for both northern and southern shipping