ABSTRACT

This chapter argues that patrifiliation is necessary but not sufficient for inclusion in a group, there can be no recruitment from the outside—just as where patrifiliation is the necessary and sufficient condition. As where patrifiliation is both necessary and sufficient, recruitment from the outside is not possible, but because affiliation requires credentials in addition to patrifiliation, it is not automatic by birth. Both kinds of group are nonoverlapping and mutually exclusive and their members are all agnatic kin of one another. However, where patrifiliation is a merely necessary condition, some proportion of any person's agnatic kin may not be members of his group and, therefore, of any such group. The sole right entailed by membership of a khel is to participate in the council of the group and, by so doing, to represent and defend one's own land interests. Such a council may be convened virtually at will by any member of the group.