AGO THE NORTHERN FORESTS. [Part IX. 



vision of tlie grain, a share of milk from his cattle, and 

 the certainty of support in periods of famine and distress. 

 Their liouses, gardens, and wells, though built, planted, 

 and dug by themselves, are the property of the chief, 

 who alone can dispose of them. According to the 

 report of Mi\ Atherton, the government agent of the 

 district, these serfs, whilst they live on the land, are 

 bound to perform every service for the lord of the soil, 

 without pay ; " they fence his gardens, cover his houses, 

 carry his baggage, perform the work of coolies in 

 balams ^ fish for him, act as his messengers ; and, when 

 absent from his village, they must provide food for 

 himself and his servants. They may, in fact, be called 

 his slaves except that they are at hberty to quit his 

 service for that of another chief when they choose. But 

 as they seldom do change, it may safely be presumed that 

 they are contented with the arrangement, and their 

 healthy and pleasant faces sufficiently prove that they are 

 well fed and happy." 



The ancient organisation for rice-cultivation, known 

 as the ^^ village system,'" exists in undiminished vigour 

 throughout the Eastern province; — during the unoc- 

 cupied portion of the year, betAveen the two rice 

 harvests, the villagers enjoy an interval of absolute 

 idleness and ease ; but on the arrival of the proper 

 season to resume their tillage, the whole community 

 recommence labour simultaneously. The chief of the 

 district supphes tools, hatchets, cattle, and seed grain ; 

 the people repair the dams and channels which lead the 

 water through the rice ground ; plough it, tramp the 

 mud, sow and fence it, and complete the work by their 

 joint labour. One portion (generally one-eighth) is 

 cultivated exclusively for the lord of the soil. Together 

 with a tithe of the remainder, he gets a share for the 

 services and labour of the cattle, and deducts the seed 

 grain advanced by him, with an increase of 50 per cent. 

 The residue of the harvest is then divided into conventional 



^ Canoes. 



