I32 AFRICAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
purpose the Bahima endeavoured to keep them in subjection. But the Baini were not outside of the law, inferior as their status was to that of the Bahima. Within its bwn sphere, this status had its positive aspects. Tribute gathering was so organized that only chiefs could exercise it at will. Small cattle-owners had no legal right to exact tribute from the Bairu.
This does not mean, however, that the chiefs alone benefited from the tribute collected. It was a common practice for Bahima herdsmen to visit their chiefs, sometimes remaining for several days at the chiefs' kraals. It was a chief's duty to provide these men with beer and millet porridge. Thus food that came to the chiefs kraal in the form of tribute \Vas later distributed among the Bahima as a whole. Every chief had a number of Bairu craftsmen who made spears, milkpots, and watering pails. These articles, too, were obtained by the ordinary Bahima from the chiefs. Herdsmen, of course, could obtain these articles direct from the Bairu through barter and they did so to a limited extent. But organized tribute and its distribution checked exchanges which would otherwise have been quite extensive.
Unauthorized tribute collection was considered robbery and was punished by the Mugabe. Any Mwini could go before the Mugabe or one of his chiefs and complain of ill treatment and could claim compensation for damages. To make his claim more effective, a Mwiru would take special gifts to the Mugabe and thus claim protection. In other words, although the Bairu system of rights was narrower and more restricted than the fuller status of the Bahima, this system was still protected by the Bahima State.
Another class which formed a part of the Banyankole kingdom consisted of conquered Bahima Abatoro who had formerly constituted chieftainships or parts of other kingdoms. Over these people the Mugabe would appoint an overlord who forced them to pay tribute in cattle and who put down any attempts at rebellion. These people being of the same race and economic status would, in time, amalgamate with the Bahima of Ankole. An Omutoro could become the Mugabe's client by paying obutoizha, after which he enjoyed the full rights of a Muhima.
The Abatoro, although not having equal status with the Abatvizha or clients, fared better than the Bairu serfs. There was no bar to intermarriage and blood revenge could be exacted, this