Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/324

 202 NOETH-WEST AFEICA. against persons accused of dishonourable acts, or of offences against the rites of hospitality, and its sentences usually take the form of fines, which go to replenish the communal coffers. But whoever brings disgrace on his tribe must leave it, the sentence of banishment being followed by the demolition of his house. Imprisonment is never inflicted on any one, freedom being too precious a treasure to be forfeited even by criminals. The bastinado and blows of any sort are also considered as degrading offender and executioner alike. Death was restricted tp cases of high treason, but every citizen retained the right of inflicting personal vengeance on his enemy. " Murder is a loan which must be repaid," says the local proverb. To administer the commune in the name of the jemaa, an amiti is chosen, usually amongst the wealthier classes, because no salary is attached to the office, lie is often even obliged to incur heavy expenses, and if he accepts the position of a public servant, he does so on the condition of acquiring nothing but a certain honourable distinction for himself and his family. He holds office so long as he performs his duty ; but the moment he ceases to give satisfaction to his fellow- citizens, he sees in their attitude of disapproval that the time has come for him to resi'i-n. without waiting for a formal vote of censure. Measures have also been devised to prevent him from favouring the interests of the xoff (majority) to the detriment of the minority. He is elected by the soff, but the minority always nominates the treasurer, who disposes of the revenues, and thus all interests are consulted. Moreover, each soff constitutes a sort of commune within the commune, and in alliance with the corresponding soffs of the neighbouring districts, and even of distant confederations. Associations of all sorts assume a thousand forms in Kabylia, at one time restricted to a particular branch of industry, at another embracing several family groups, and constituting one large family analogous to the Servian zadruga. But in all cases the responsibility of the associated members is of a joint character, the ** limited liability " principle of European companies being unknown amongst the Kabyles. Thanks to this spirit of republican solidarity, abject poverty is of rare occur- rence. Without sacrificing their personal dignity, those in temporary distress receive from the commune such aid as they stand in need of. Occasionally public repasts are held, in which rich and poor must all alike take part. The builder of a house claims by right the assistance of the whole village ; those engaged in manual labour, or in harvesting their crops, may also rely on their neighbours' help ; while a general corcee is instituted to till the land of those no longer able to work for themselves. Thus all claim and return mutual aid to all. Even towards the distressed stranger the Kabyle is bound to show friendship, guiding him through the storm, and giving hira food when pressed by hunger. During the terrible winter of 1867-8, when thousands of natives perished in the French settlements, mendicants flocked from all quarters towards the Jurjura highlands, where none were allowed to starve. It might be supposed that a nation divided into as many little democracies as there are villages, would be powerless against foreign aggression. On the contrary,