44	THE  LUSHEI  CLANS	chap.
young chiefs; for in former days, when might was right, it
behoved a son to follow the advice of his father, or the latter's
help might not be forthcoming when danger threatened.
The chief was, in theory at least, a despot; but the nomadic
instinct of the people is so strong that any chief whose rule
was unduly harsh soon found his subjects leaving him, and he
was therefore constrained to govern according to custom.
To assist him each chief appoints one or more elderly men,
known as " upa." These form a sort of council which discusses
all matters connected with the village, and decides all disputes
between people of the village, for which they receive fees
termed "salam" from the party who loses the case. These
fees are their only remuneration. The chief presides over this
council, which is generally held of an evening in the chiefs
house, while the zu horn circulates briskly. The chief receives
a portion of each fine levied, a practice found to prevent undue
leniency.
Besides the upas the chief appoints the following village
officials—" ramhual" and " tlangau." The former, of whom there
may be several, are advisers as to where the jhums shall be cut,
and are allowed first choice of land for the purpose, but have to
give the chief five to seven baskets of paddy instead of two,
which is the portion due from other subjects.
The tlangau is the crier, whose high-pitched voice is heard
after dark, when every good householder is at home, proclaim-
ing the chiefs orders.
He also arranges how the work of the village is to be divided,
who are to go and make a road, who are to repair the
zawlbuk, &c.
In return for his labours he receives a small basket of rice
from each house in the village.
Besides the ramhual and the tlangau, no village is complete
without at least one "thirdeng," or blacksmith, and a "puithiam,"
or sorcerer. The former receives one basket of rice from each
householder whose tools he repairs; the latter receives the same
amount from each householder for whom he performs the
sacrifices connected with his cultivation.
The chief receives one hind leg of every wild animal shot by
any of his men, and when the killing of elephants was allowed