THE KINGDOM OF ANKOLE IN UGANDA 139
the Mugabe, or king, and swear to follow him in war and would undertake to give the Mugabe a number of cattle periodically to keep this relationship alive. On the other hand, clientship could be broken by the omutoizha, or client, refusing to pay homage. This was a perfectly recognized way of breaking off the relationship, and it was only when a number of Bahima banded together in order to defy the king more effectively that this act was considered rebellion. Even then, if the rebellious people resumed homage payments, they would be pardoned by the king. If, however, a Muhima induced others to pay homage to himself and raided cattle without giving the Mugabe a share, he could be accused of treason and the Mugabe would move his forces to suppress him.
Clientship involved a number of obligations on the part of the client towards the Mugabe. Foremost among these duties was military service. Every Muhima, even if he were not a member of a military band, had to go to war when called upon. Any cattle which a Muhima acquired through a private raid were claimed by the Mugabe and a part of them had to be handed over to him. Clientship obliged every Muhima to make periodic visits to the Mugabe's orurembo (kraal), with homage payments. He was also obliged to assent to the giving of cattle to the Mugabe's collector when tl^e king was in need of cattle. Whenever a Muhima died, his heir had to report to the Mugabe and renew the bond of clientship by giving a *cow of burial5.
In return for military service and the payment of homage, the client received protection. First, the Mugabe undertook to shield the cattle of his client from cattle-raiders and to retaliate when his client had suffered from raids. If a client had lost all of his cattle through raid or disease, the Mugabe was obliged to help the man start a new herd. Secondly, the Mugabe maintained peace between his clients. No client was permitted to raid or steal the cattle of another client or to do harm to his person or dependants. If breaches of the peace occurred, the transgressor was accused and tried before the Mugabe. In cases of murder, the Mugabe granted the kinsmen the right of blood revenge. Finally, the Mugabe was instrumental in enabling his clients to enlarge their herds and pasturage by raids and conquest.
To sum up, then, the Bahima State consisted of the cattle-owning freemen and their leader, the Mugabe. The specific tie