206 
The custom of Gabhail Ciné (a partition of a family) or Gavel- 
kind, as it is called by English writers, has been but very imper- 
fectly understood or explained by all who have hitherto published 
any thing on that subject. This is owing to those authors being 
unacquainted with the laws prescribing the mode of partition, and 
the proportions which each F%né or tribe was to receive on a parti- 
tion of the tribal lands, or of the Erics or fines accruing to the sept. 
General Vallancey says, ‘* The Irish custom called Gavel-kind 
“ consisted in dividing the father’s hereditary lands among all his 
“ sons, ulterly excluding the daughters from enjoying any share of 
* the landed inheritance.”* How far this account is correct, and 
at the same time what the real nature of the Gabhail Ciné was, may 
be collected from the laws on that subject amongst the ES eaESeaaptS 
in the library of Trinity College.+ 
The inhabitants of every district in Ireland were divided into the 
following Finés, tribes or families, viz :—“ Geil-Finé ; Deirbhfiné ; 
“ Tar-finé ; Ind-finé ; Derg-finé ; Dubh-finé; Finé-taccur, Glas- 
“« finé ; Ingen-ar-meraih, and Dua-finé. Here ends the Finés or 
“ tribes.” The members and proportions of these tribes are set 
down as follows :— 
1. “ Geilfine co cuicer, is iside gaibhes dibad cach cuid comocuis 
« di nech dibhadh uaidhe.” Geilfiné extends to five persons. It is 
it that receives the inheritance of their (own) relations who die. 
2. “ Deirbhfine co nonbar, ni dibadh uaidhe cobrand for lin 
*° cend comocuis.” Deirbhfine extends to nine persons ; “ the inheri- 
« tance of those who die is equally divided amongst the relations.” 
The Commentator on this passage adds, “ with athghabhail,” i. e 
resumption of property, ‘* to the persons before mentioned.” 
* Collect, de Reb. Hib. + Class H. No, 54 
