since the fore did not have established mechanisms for jurisprudence, guilt was often determined through the use of rituals. one such ritual was placing hunted animals in bamboo vessels, each vessel representing the name of an accused person or tribe responsible. these vessels would then be put over a fire. after some time upon the fire, the animals would be removed and their livers would then be extracted. a fully cooked liver was considered proof of innocence, and conversely, an uncooked or partially cooked liver was considered conclusive evidence of guilt for the person or group associated with the vessel that contained the incriminating animal.