the ethnological notebooks of karl marx - Marxists Internet Archive

Notes to Morgan, p. 240.22 Agriculturae non student, maiorque pars eorum victus in lacte,caseo, carne consistit. Neque quisquam agri modum certum aut fineshabet proprios; sed magistratus ac principes in annos singulos gentibuscognationibusque hominum, qui una coierunt, quantum et quoloco visum est agri attribuunt atque anno post alio transire cogunt.Eius rei multas adferunt causas: ne adsidua consuetudine captistudium belli gerendi agricultura commutent; ne latos fines pararestudeant, potentioresque humiliores possessionibus expellant; ne accuratiusad frigora atque aestus vitandos aedificent; ne qua oriaturpecuniae cupiditas, qua ex re factiones dissensionesque nascuntur; utanimi aequitate plebem contineant, cum suas quisque opes cumpotentissimis aequari videat.For agriculture they have no zeal, and the greater part of their foodconsists of milk, cheese, and flesh. No man has a definite quantity ofland or estate of his own: the magistrates and chiefs every year assignto tribes and clans that have assembled together as much land and insuch place as seems good to them, and compel the tenants after a yearto pass on elsewhere. They adduce many reasons for that practice -the fear that they may be tempted by continuous association1 tosubstitute agriculture for their warrior zeal; that they may becomezealous for the acquisition of broad territories, and so the morepowerful may drive the lower sort from their holdings; that they maybuild with greater care to avoid the extremes of cold and heat; thatsome passion for money may arise to be the parent of parties and ofquarrels. It is their aim to keep common people in contentment, wheneach man sees that his own wealth is equal to that of the most powerful.283 lb., c. 23.23 Civitatibus maxima laus est quam latissime circum se vastatisfinibus solitudines habere. Hoc proprium virtutis existimant, expulsosagris finitimos cedere, neque quemquam prope audere consistere;simul hoc se fore tutiores arbitrantur repentinae incursionistimore sublato. Cum bellum civitas aut illatum defendit aut infert,magistratus, qui ei bello praesint, ut vitae necisque habeant potestatem,deliguntur. In pace nullus est communis magistratus, sedprincipes regionum atque pagorum inter suos ius dicunt controversiasqueminuunt.Their nations account it the highest praise by devasting theirborders to have areas of wilderness as wide as possible around them.They think it the true sign of valour when the neighbours are drivento abandon their fields, hence no one settles near them, likewise theyhold that they have more security by removing fear of incursions.When a nation defends itself or attacks, a chief officer leads it towhom is delegated power over their lives. In peace there is no com-1 i.e. with one spot which would become endeared to them.413