190 JAMES NEIL, M.A., 
properties are granted composed of so many holdings, or the mansus 
of so and so, in a certain place without any description of the hold- 
ings by boundaries. Why is thisP Simply because both in 
England and France the land belonging to each holding was 
scattered in strips about the whole area of the township. This 
evidence carries back the system in France to the commencement 
of the sixth century, i.e., as far as the documentary evidence goes. 
Mr. BercHerm.—I accept what Mr. Boscawen said about the tax 
collector. The custom is kept up in the village-communities; they 
are bound to provide him with a donkey. 
Mr. Boscawren.—The practice on which that is founded is laid 
in 1130 B.c., when the right of freedom was granted to places for 
certain benefits; in future the tax collector was not to go his 
rounds, and they were not to provide him with a donkey. 
Dr. Cuapiin.—I feel, my Lord, it is great presumption in me to 
occupy the time of the meeting, as my knowledge of the subject 
is so inferior to that of many of those gentlemen who have already 
spoken. As to the argument derived from antiquity, I am unable 
to add anything. What I do know of the subject, coincides en- 
tirely with the points brought forward so ably by Mr. Neil, and 
I must say that I have derived a great deal of pleasure and in- 
struction from listening to his paper; and may I say that I could 
not help thinking, as he proceeded, that it would be very interest- 
ing to discuss, at least in a brief way and in few words, the 
influence on the people of this peculiar way of holding land in 
Palestine. Perhaps it may not be known to some present, that 
one of the most interesting problems possible is now being worked 
out in that country, viz., whether this very ancient system of hold- 
ing lands for agricultural purposes in common, as described to us 
this evening, is better for the general welfare of the people, than 
that newer system to which we are accustomed in this country, 
and which is being introduced into Palestine, where capitalists 
are purchasing the lands of the villages, and the fellahheen are 
losing their ancient rights in the land, and, in consequence, the 
circumstances of the country population are changing. I had 
hoped that my friend Mr. Bergheita, who knows so much about 
it, would have told us more than he did. He just lifted one 
corner of the veil wheu he said he had inquired into it, but he has 
not said so much as could be wished. Subjects of great importance 
and of widespread influence are now keing considered in Palestine, 
which must soon come to the front. I allude more particularly to 
