194 THE NON-LUSHEI CLANS CHAP.

a basket of rice containing about two maunds; out of each
brood of pigs or fowls reared in the village, one of the young
becomes the property of the Rajah, arid he is further entitled
to one quarter of every animal killed in the chase, and, in
addition, to one of the tusks of each elephant so slain. In
labour his entire population are bound to devote four days in
each year, in a body, for the purpose of cultivating his private
fields. On the first day they cut down the jungle, on the
second day, the fuel being dry, they fire it and prepare the
ground, on the third they sow and harrow, and on the fourth
cut and bring in the harvest. Besides the labour of these
four days in which the entire effective population, men, women,
.and children, work for him, small parties are told off during
the whole season to assist his own domestic slaves in tending
the crop, repairing his house (which edifice is always built
afresh by the subjects when a new site is repaired to), and in
supplying wood and water for the family. On the occasion of
the days of general labour, a great feast is given by the Eajah
to all his people ; so also, on the occasion of an elephant being
killed, to the successful hunters, but this is the only remunera-
tion ever received by them, and calls can be made on them
for further supplies and labour, whenever it may be required.

" The Rajah is the sole and supreme authority in the village
or villages under him, no one else being competent to give
orders or inflict punishment except through him.

" To assist him in carrying on the affairs of government the
Rajah has a minister, and more frequently several, called
1 thushoisJ or * muntries/ who have the privilege of being
exempt from labour and taxation at his hands. This office is
not, strictly speaking, hereditary—although in most cases, except
when thoroughly incompetent, the son succeeds the father—but
is given to those qualified for it, as being men of property and
influence as well as of ability, and good spokesmen. The Rajah
himself is, on the contrary, invariably succeeded by his eldest
son, for whom, should he be a minor, the kingdom is managed
by a council of muntries. In default of sons, the Rajah's
brother succeeds, and failing him the nearest male relative takes
the guddee, the Salique law being in full force.

" Should the Rajah die without any heir to the throne, the