564 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. 



or on sale ; and of which parts, originally offered as presents, 

 are subsequently seized as dues. 



Under other heads I have referred to the familiar fact that 

 travellers among rude peoples make propitiatory gifts ; and 

 by frequent recurrence the reception of these generates a 

 claim. Narratives of recent African explorers confirm the 

 statements of Livingstone, who describes the Portuguese traders 

 among the Quanga people as giving largely, because &quot; if they 

 did not secure the friendship of these petty chiefs, many 

 slaves might be stolen with their loads while passing through 

 the forests ; &quot; and who says of a Balonda chief that &quot; he 

 seemed to regard these presents as his proper dues, and as a 

 cargo of goods had come by Senhor Pascoal,he entered the house 

 for the purpose of receiving his share.&quot; Various cases show 

 that instead of attempting to take all at the risk of a fight, the 

 head man enters into a compromise under which part is given 

 without a fight ; as instance the habitual arrangement with 

 Bedouin tribes, which compound for robbery of travellers by 

 amounts agreed upon ; or as instance the mountain Bhils of 

 India, whose chiefs have &quot; seldom much revenue except 

 plunder,&quot; who have officers &quot; to obtain information of unpro 

 tected villagers and travellers,&quot; and who claim &quot; a duty on 

 goods passing their hills : &quot; apparently a composition accepted 

 when those who carry the goods are too strong to be robbed 

 without danger. Where the protection of individuals depends 

 mainly on family-organizations and clan-organizations, the 

 subject as well as the stranger, undefended when away from 

 his home, similarly becomes liable to this qualified black 

 mail. Now to the local ruler, now to the central ruler, 

 according to their respective powers, he yields up part of his 

 goods, that possession of the rest may be guaranteed him&amp;gt; 

 and his claims on buyers enforced. This state of things was 

 illustrated in ancient Mexico, where 



&quot; Of all the goods which were brought into the market, a certain portion 

 was paid in tribute to the king, who was on his part obliged to do justice 

 to the merchants, and to protect their property and their persons.&quot; 



