| caption: |
Zemi tribal polity; the 'kadepeo' |
| text: |
(79) Despite their closeness to the railway and the fact that they had been long administered, the Zemis' tribal polity still survived in surprisingly complete form. |
| text: |
Much of it dated back to the time of their first arrival. When their early colonies came drifting into the country, and, casting about, picked on sites for their settlements, each had had a leader. With this leader had been a lieutenant. In nine cases out of ten he was a man of the other exogamous group (the Zemi had only two) and probably the leader's brother-in-law or a similar connection by marriage. These two naturally claimed the soil on which they settled with their clansmen; and from their descendants were chosen the village headmen for ever after, for ownership of the site, and with it virtual control of the village, passed down in the family. These hereditary landowners were called 'kadepeo,' " man of the soil ", and only rarely, when there was no candidate of suitable age, did an outsider rise to leadership. No one else could wield the same authority as a true 'kadepeo.' The only difference under administration was that the headmen were officially recognized and wore the red Government blanket. The method of choice by the village remained the same. |
