54 THE LUSHEI CLANS CHAP.

not have to pay the fine in addition to the usual marriage
price. If, however, he delays in marrying her, he must pay
both. In this matter, however, custom varies considerably in
different villages.

5. Inherit- The general rule is for the youngest son to inherit, but
anoe" occasionally the eldest also claims a share. With chiefs it is

usual for each son, as he comes to a marriageable age, to be
given a certain number of households and allowed to set up a
village of his own, but the youngest generally remains with his
father, and inherits his village and his property.

Adoption.—Persons of property who have no son sometimes
adopt a near relative, but there is no special ceremony ; it is a
purely private arrangement. The custom known as " Sa-phun,"
is in some respects akin to adoption. Should a chief have a
very favourite boi, he sometimes grants him admission into his
own clan. The " puitiam " being called, a fowl or a pig is sacrificed,
after the appropriate prayer has been said, and a few of the
hairs or feathers are tied round the man's neck, and he is hence-
forth considered to belong to the chiefs clan. Anyone can
thus admit another to his clan, but in practice it is seldom
done, except by chiefs. I think the sacrifice is made with a
view to propitiate the Sakhua of the clan which the man is
abandoning.

6. Certain articles are said " man a nei," " to have a price," and
Offences the theft of any of them is punished by a fine of one mithan,
property, quite irrespective of the actual value of the article stolen. These

are—rice cleaned or unhusked, cloths, guns, brass pots, domestic
animals, and wild animals, or birds which have been killed or
trapped. The theft of other articles is punished by fines of
from Us. I/- to Rs. 5/-, which are taken by the chief and his
upa, and termed " salam." Restitution of the articles stolen
is always insisted on.

To steal or even to retain a hoe or axe found on the road is
most unlucky, and is supposed to be followed by the death of
the finder's child.

7. The punishment in these cases rested originally with the
SmTeTted aggrieve(l party or his relatives, who were allowed to exact
with, the summary vengeance. Thus a husband was at liberty to kill an
body. unfaithful wife and her paramour, but if he did not take