THE BEMBA TRIBE OF NORTH-EASTERN RHODESIA 103
legal rights of the two rivals, and the rather complex machinery of tribal deliberation on such matters (cf. p. 109) was not called into motion.
The chart also shows clearly the way in which certain chieftainships have also tended to become fixed in different family lines of this main branch of the Bena rjandu even during the last four generations, i.e. the Mwambaship, the Nkolemfumuship, the Mpepoship in the line of the chieftainess Mukukamfumu, and the Nkulaship, the Cikwandaship, and the Ceweship in the line of Nakasafye. The separation between these two branches will probably become wider and wider with time. In the case of the outlying sub-chieftainships, this separation off of local family lines of the royal clan has proceeded even further. To conclude, there are definite rules of succession according to Bemba kinship but the type of matrilineal succession usually provides two or three possible heirs, and in the case of the bigger chieftainships there are a number of different factors, such as the paramount's control over the more important ifyalo, the traditional order of succession to different offices, local feeling in the case of sub-chieftainships, and last, but not by any means a negligible point> the personal qualities of the candidates themselves.
IV. Functions and Prerogatives of Leadership
The functions of the territorial heads, i.e, chiefs and headmen, seem to be derived from trwo sources—the position of the leader as head of a kinship group and his role as the representative of a line of dead ancestors in a particular district. In the case of a headman, these two aspects are indistinguishable, while the latter predominates where a chief is concerned.
(a) The Headman. Bemba headmen are described as looking after, keeping, or actually 'herding the people' (ukuteka bantu). As senior kinsman of most of the villagers, a headman is responsible for the discipline of the children and young people; he hears cases informally and directs some economic activities. There are few activities carried out by the whole community in common except fishing and hunting, but besides organizing these latter pursuits a good headman initiates each new agricultural process and encourages and criticizes the younger men and women. Land is not often a matter of dispute in this area. The headman does not allot individual plots, but listens to cases should any arise. He is said to