n they do indifferently use to eat
with their Leaves, as well as this made of Shells now described.

CHAP. IX.

Of their Laws and Language.

There are three things, that ingenious men may possibly be inquisitive
after, which have not yet been professedly handled, their Laws,
their Language, and their Learning.

[Their Laws.] Concerning the first, here are no Laws, but the Will
of the King, and whatsoever proceeds out of his mouth is an immutable
Law. Nevertheless they have certain antient usages and Customes that
do prevail and are observed as Laws; and Pleading them in their Courts
and before their Governors will go a great way.

[Lands descend.] To hint some of them, their Lands are hereditary,
and do descend from Parents to their Children. But the eldest son
by Priviledg of Birth-right does not possess and enjoy all the Land,
but if the Father please he can divide it among his Children. Yet in
case the eldest son does enjoy the Land, then without dispute he is
to maintain his Mother and her Children until they come to years or
ability to provide for themselves.

[In case Corn receives dammage by a Neighbours Cattle.] They have a
custom in the Land Ouvah, which is a great breeder of Cattle, and hath
but very little Wood, so that they have not where with to make hedges;
It is that when they sow their Lands, they drive their Cattle thence,
and watch them all day that they break not into the Corn; and at night
they tie their Cattle to secure them from straying into the Corn-Lands:
otherwise if one Neighbours Cattle eats another neighbours Corn,
he must pay the dammage.

Those that are lazy and loath to Plow, or that are Poor and want Corn
to sow, the Custom is, to let out their ground to others to Till
at Ande, that is at halves; but fees and accustomable dues taken,
out by the Husbandman that tills it, the Owner of the Land receives
not much above a third part.

[The loss of leting out land to Till.] For the Husband hath divers
considerable payments besides his half share of the Corn. As namely,
first he hath Cotoumaun, that is, so much Corn as they scratch off
from the whole heap of trodden Corn by drawing a bundle of Thorns over
it. Secondly, Waracool, that is a consideration for the expences they
are at in Tilling and Sowing; for which there is a Rate according to
the bigness of the field. Thirdly, Warrapoll, that is the Corn they
leave at the bottom of the heap after they have done fanning. Whi