i38 AFRICAN POLITICAL SYSTEMS
distress and to pay, like any one else, a bride-price to the father of any woman he wished to marry. He acknowledged the rights of clans to certain offices and took the advice of his supporters in political affairs. In judicial matters, his mother and sister could veto his decisions. No man, it is said, could be executed by the Mugabe until the consent of these two women had first been obtained.
We must be careful to note, on the other hand, that while the Mugabe was bound by custom, he was, strictly speaking, above the law. No man could take legal action against him, for there was no authority higher than the Mugabe before which he could be accused, tried, and sentenced. Political action could be and was taken against him. The legal relationship which bound subjects to the Mugabe could be broken by the subjects moving to another kingdom or by refusing to pay homage until the king fulfilled his obligations.
While the Mugabe was the unquestioned head of the State, he did not stand alone. He was supported in his kingly duties by a large number of individuals, who, together with the king, formed what might be called an effective government. Among these individuals, the king's mother and sister were the most important. They lived in separate kraals and maintained establishments almost as elaborate as that of the Mugabe. Next in rank came the Enganzi, or favourite chief, who lived with the Mugabe and acted as his adviser. Then there was a large group of individuals known as the abagaragwa, or king's relatives, who had a variety of duties to perform in the king's kraal. Finally, there were the executive chiefs, or abakungu, comprising war leaders and tribute collectors.
We shall for the moment postpone the discussion of the mother and sister of the Mugabe and deal with the dignitaries who derive their positions through royal selection. The Enganzi has been variously called the 'prime minister', the 'head chief, the 'beloved one* and the 'favoured one', but we shall here call him the 'favourite chief. When during the new moon the Bahima see the new moon and the evening star together in the western sky they say that the Mugabe and the Enganzi are in conference, the moon representing the Mugabe and the evening star the Enganzi. When relations between the Mugabe and the Enganzi are strained, the people are afraid, for they say 'power and wisdom' are quarrelling. The Enganzi is selected by the Mugabe with the advice and consent of