ABSTRACT
Other than this budding confederation, there was practically no cohesion among the people. Though of the same stock, speaking the same language, and with similar customs and practices, the villages remained separate from one another. They not only kept themselves more or less isolated; there was always a varying amount of rivalry and jealousy between them. These evils prevailed to such an extent that it was never safe to wander far afield; to do so was almost certain to lead to disaster. The friction frequently led to desultory fighting, especially in the dry season. Peace was constantly being broken and often but a very slight pretext was sufficient to start a minor conflict between rival villages. The baleful effect of these skirmishes was not so much the physical suffering inflicted; more serious was the dislocation of trade. All communications were suspended during the time operations were in progress, except that the" adas" (daughters) of a village were usually allowed to pass unmolested if they wished to visit their homefolk. The disruption of trade did not really amount
to much in the old days and was scarcely worth consideration. Under the new conditions, such interruptions would be an intolerable nuisance. Happily they have ceased to exist, and intercourse between the villages to-day is unfettered and free from risk of attack.
