X08 AFRICAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
twelve uniformed messengers, kapasus, and for the rest they
go short of service.
(b) Military. There was no general military organization in this tribe, but attached to each big court were one or two captains (bashika). Some of these were hereditary, with ritual functions connected with war magic, and others appointed at the chief's will. They now act as specially trusted messengers.
(c) Judicial. There is no fixed composition to a Bemba court, although its procedure is laid down by custom. At a small chief's court, the elderly men of the village attend, while the bafilolo act as advisers at the big indsumba. Cases go on appeal from sub-chief to chief, chief to paramount, and in the event of a case of extreme difficulty presenting itself, the Citimukulu can summon from their villages some of his hereditary priests or councillors, the bakabilo (cf. below). Witnesses are brought by each party to a case and are marshalled by the bafilolo. The senior man present claps as each point is made to mark^the recognition of the court, and the chief himself finally sums up and gives judgement. The advisers speak when asked a point of precedent or law, and influence the chief's final decision by black looks or alternatively -enthusiastic clappings of the hand.
(d) Advisory. There is no council or meeting of all the adult men of the tribe for special occasions, as among many Southern Bantu, Sub-chiefs have a panel of village elders and relatives to advise them, while the biggest territorial chiefs have hereditary officials who combine political and judicial with ritual functions. In the case of the paramount, these officials—the bakabilo—number between thirty-five and forty and form an advisory council on special matters of State. The bakabilo have been described as having descent as long as that of the chief himself in many cases and possess sacred relics in their own rights. The power of these relics is so strong that the Citimukulu is not permitted to pass through their villages for fear that one chieftainship should harm the other. Bakabilo are immune from tribute, wore special feather head-dresses in the old days, and even now claim special respect equal to that given to a chief when travelling about the country. They call themselves Fwe Babemba (We, the Babemba'), may not leave the central territory (Lubemba) for long, must be buried within the royal district, and keep sex taboos similar to those of the chiefs. They succeed by a special accession