THE SOCIAL SYSTEM 69 



' distinguished at a glance by his superior bearing 

 and manners, by the neatness and cleanliness of his 

 person, his more valuable weapons, and personal 

 ornaments, as well as by greater regularity of 

 features. The woman of the upper class also 

 exhibits to the eye similar marks of her superior 

 birth and breeding. The tatuing of her skin is 

 more finely executed, greater care is taken with the 

 elongation of the lobe of the ear, so that the social 

 status of the woman is indicated by the length of 

 the lobe. Her dress and person are cleaner, and 

 generally better cared for, and her skin is fairer 

 than that of other women, owing no doubt to her 

 having been less exposed to the sun. 



The men of the upper class work in the padi- 

 fields and bear their share of all the labours of the 

 village ; but they are able to cultivate larger areas 

 than others owing to their possession of slaves, who, 

 although they are expected to grow a supply of 

 padi for their own use, assist in the cultivation of 

 their master's fields. For the upper-class women, 

 also, the labours of the field and the house are 

 rendered less severe by the assistance of female 

 slaves, although they bear a part both in the weed- 

 ing of the fields, in the harvesting, and in the 

 preparation of food in the house. 



The chiefs room, which is usually about twice 

 as long as others, is usually in the middle of the 

 house ; and those of the other upper-class families, 

 which also may be larger than the other rooms, 

 adjoin it on either side. 



In all social gatherings, and in the performance 

 of public rites and ceremonies, the men of the upper 

 class are accorded leading parts, and they usually 

 group themselves about the chief. Social intercourse 

 is freer and more intimate among the people of the 

 upper class than between them and the rest of the 

 household. 



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