1 068 PECULIAR GOVERNMENT OF THE SHEERAUNEES.
2 'tnd « ttnali ii(imb«r of Mtflen inm Ikmmmp piaotb^-tlK tnim 'df
3 The pniidpalraiqplojnMiittif 1^ ShoowuneBi n ^rioflfemib'iriMdl
4 h'cuiM (m ia tlie Mme plMM unds ibB hills ^ddiice
5 gnm inthbuiinlwriag^ hpt «il«iie sed.fif .lhar'lttidkM iif^tfaa
6 me«Biir diimi-thMMMi iooM ihft faiil'itMigiia. /Hm tt.n« m
7 in i]ie4tibe'ballliii chhT (anddieMoQlUifl) wtwdaaiJiot'kbonr..- -
8 They have two litfviMi^ one of «faioh'eaiiilite.ctf ied'iieei"]kifiBi
9 ^Dorii, Moong, and tobabeow' b 'u'sdvu in wnniriBiv and reaped hi
10 autiimh ; when it is off the gtcmA, Ihey taw wlwat and bailqr,ifhich
11 is cut in the hcgnming of nmineT.
12 Their common itock consists of hullocks» but there aie tone shep>
13 heida whti»'live aoakerad m maU hamlets over the wnnmits of the
14 mountains, and some even in tenti. Their bullocka aie vaj amiU,
15 •ahfteya hlack» and without huanpi. Tliey have a few goal% ai^ some
16 asseS) biit no miiles, buffideet»* or caoMli. Tbm9 mm^ w^'fwimty
17 horses in the whole ooontfj; •
18 ■ The d^ef of the Sheeraunees is called iheNeeka (which in Push-
19 too means the grandfather). He has very great authority in hm
20 tribe,* which is partly derived from his being the efaosen: head of the
21 oki^t family, and partly from the belief of the Sheeramites^ that he
22 18 under the immediate guidance and protection of Providence. He
23 'has alarfte estate, and consequentiv fmploys many people in husban-
24 dty, but he has ni) domosnc 8ervaiit>. He rccpive*; n Inmb annually
25 from everv mnn in the tribe who has sheep, and :i calt trom those
26 who have mnu\ rattle. No force is employed to reahze this tax, but
27 it is rea(lil\ p nitL from the conviction of tiie people that some gr^ '
28 misforti u [ tlu death of a child for inrtawre) will fall oa &nry po^
29 son wh<i rckises to pav.
30 Thovi^'h men oth'ti rrdrt'ss tlieir owD injuries bv mere Ibrce, yet tlie
31 Neeka is the only regular dispenser of justice. He hears the parties,
32 and after sayinji a prayer, decides the cause by the inspiration of the
33 Divinity. His order is alwa;^s obeyed from the dread of supernatural
34 punishment, : : . . • .
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