Page:The Effects of Civilisation on the People in European States.djvu/66

44 the most considerable portion, which constituted his domain. Every warrior, in proportion to his rank, had his lot or share, which gave rise to allodiality. That part of the territory which was not parted out to individuals, was considered, agreeably to their ancient ideas, as belonging to the community, and was called the lands of the fisch.

The sovereign took the subsequent division of these, annexing to all of them the burden of presenting themselves in arms at his call. Hence, possession flowed to the chiefs, under the burden of presenting themselves in arms at the call of the sovereign. The chiefs dealt out lands to their retainers, under the like injunction, of continuing to them their aid.

In this manner, the whole land was parcelled out among the first invaders, and those who soon after followed them, together with the stock on it; for it is not to be supposed that those people who seized the land would abstain from taking the stock on it. As the land, and the stock on it, composed at this time almost the whole of property or wealth, the bulk of the people were, by the