SERVIA - COOPERATION" AND ASSOCIATION 



in cases of mortgaging, wliich is often only a step towards selling, he is 

 bound to assemble the Zadrugal Council, the decision of which is final. 

 In the same way, the domakin can not himself either borrow or pledge what 

 is common property. Finally, in very serious cases involving his honour, 

 or his moral reputation, he may be deprived of his office. 



More and more also, the strictly patriarchal idea of the role of the do- 

 makin is disappearing in proportion as the powers of the Zadrugal Council 

 increase. This, which was first a very limited group of individuals freely 

 consulted by the chief, has gradually extended to include all the members 

 of the Zadruga, who have a real right to a place in it. In this family Parlia- 

 ment the most various subjects of agricultural economy are dealt with: 

 distribution, quantity and quaHty of the crops.sales, purchases, exchanges etc. 

 In all important matters, the head must consult the Council and has then 

 only to carrv out its decisions. 



§ 4. The present position of the zadruga. 



According to the last volume of the "Statistical Yearbook of the King- 

 dom of Servia " (Third volume, 1909-10. Belgrade, 1913. Government Press), 

 the number of rural households, for the most part Zadrugas, in 1910, was 

 as under : 



Percentage 



Consisting of one person .... 17, 539 401 



from 2 to 3 members 76,221 17-44 



4 ,, 5 ,, ..... 118,029 27.01 



6 ,, 10 ,, 186,364 42.65 



,, II ., 15 -, 30,468 6.97 



,, 16 „ 20 ,, 6,233 1-43 



>, 21 „ 25 ,, 1,565 0.36 



,, 26 „ 30 ,, 417 0.09 



more than 30 151 0.04 



Total . . . 436,987 100.00 



Average number of persons per household: 6.02. 



5. § Advantages and disadvantages of the zadruga. 



It remains for us briefly to set forth the advantages and disadvant- 

 ages of the Zadruga. As advantage, let us mention: 



(a) The abundance of labourers and the division of labour it makes 

 possible. In practice, the \\ ork is generally divided as follows : the head 

 of the Zadruga administers and manages the household, he treats with 

 the aiithorities, the merchants and whoever else may have any dealings 



