We leam, however, from a booklet by Adam Nayyar (1988:22) that
most of the affected tribesmen were unsuccessful in demanding a just
division of the remaining lands. Only the Mada Me/ arranged a weM in
1980. Normally, the families and segments in a good economic position
opposed every attempt at major change, and the administration of Paki-
stan avoided expected daw and order problems'. The effects of the
changes in the course of the Indus River were not so burdensome, as the
losses were made good by gains on the opposite bank.
In his book on Swat and Indus-Rohistan (1956), Barth describes the
economic and political systems on the right (western) bank of the Indus.
Here the communities have winter villages near the Indus, but migrate
from this position at 3,000 feet up to high meadows at 15,000 feet,
which they reach in July and August. In spite of complications oc-
casioned by the various stations, a system of periodical re-allotment
prevailed.
The situation in the area of Patan was graphically presented by Barth
(1956:21 ff). A part of the crop harvested in the upper levels was kept in
grain bins to be used for seed and food in the coming spring and sum-
mer. There was a generally accepted obligation not to touch neighbours'
provisions.
Special problems arose when one of the larger valleys was conquered in
a raid from a distant base, with the intention of integrating it into the
victors' was/z-system. This happened in Kandia, formerly a minor state,
which became prey to the Duberis.
In Duber, the younger men were - at the time of Barth's visit - totally
unfamiliar with the principle, whereas informants in Kandia were more
aware of it and still able to expound the rules.
In spite of the long and difficult way from and to Duber, both areas had
been included in the same system of re-allotment, which took place
every fourth or fifth year. This was the route used by Sir Aurel Stein in
1941, when he marched northwards in order to explore the gorges of the
113
most of the affected tribesmen were unsuccessful in demanding a just
division of the remaining lands. Only the Mada Me/ arranged a weM in
1980. Normally, the families and segments in a good economic position
opposed every attempt at major change, and the administration of Paki-
stan avoided expected daw and order problems'. The effects of the
changes in the course of the Indus River were not so burdensome, as the
losses were made good by gains on the opposite bank.
In his book on Swat and Indus-Rohistan (1956), Barth describes the
economic and political systems on the right (western) bank of the Indus.
Here the communities have winter villages near the Indus, but migrate
from this position at 3,000 feet up to high meadows at 15,000 feet,
which they reach in July and August. In spite of complications oc-
casioned by the various stations, a system of periodical re-allotment
prevailed.
The situation in the area of Patan was graphically presented by Barth
(1956:21 ff). A part of the crop harvested in the upper levels was kept in
grain bins to be used for seed and food in the coming spring and sum-
mer. There was a generally accepted obligation not to touch neighbours'
provisions.
Special problems arose when one of the larger valleys was conquered in
a raid from a distant base, with the intention of integrating it into the
victors' was/z-system. This happened in Kandia, formerly a minor state,
which became prey to the Duberis.
In Duber, the younger men were - at the time of Barth's visit - totally
unfamiliar with the principle, whereas informants in Kandia were more
aware of it and still able to expound the rules.
In spite of the long and difficult way from and to Duber, both areas had
been included in the same system of re-allotment, which took place
every fourth or fifth year. This was the route used by Sir Aurel Stein in
1941, when he marched northwards in order to explore the gorges of the
113