ABSTRACT
The real reason why all the economic obligations are normally kept, and kept very scrupulously, is that failure to comply places a man in an intolerable position, while slackness in fulfilment covers him with opprobrium. The man who would persistently disobey the rulings of law in his economic dealings would soon find himself outside the social and economic order—and he is perfectly well aware of it. To take the economic transactions first: barter of goods and services is carried on mostly within a standing partnership, or is associated with definite social ties or coupled with a mutuality in non-economic matters. In cases of minor or occasional magic, such as love charms, curative rites, sorcery, magic of toothache and of pig-welfare, it has to be paid for substantially and the relation between client and professional is based on a contract defined by custom.
