Note 82 — Chapter III · PASTORAL TRIBES.

In these cases slaves strengthen the military force of the tribe. But the tribe profits only indirectly by this reinforcement of the family. Most pastoral nomads live in comparatively small groups, rather independently; there is no strong central government82. And where quarrels between these small groups are frequent, the more numerous the family (in the wider sense, the Roman familia, including slaves), the better will the head of the family be able to maintain his position83. And pastoral nomads have always a great motive for fighting: they can enrich themselves by a successful raid. Among hunting, fishing, and agricultural tribes, if the conqueror does not want to keep the vanquished as slaves, war gives little profit84. But in the raids pastoral nomads make on each other, the successful raider may acquire numerous herds, i.e. great wealth. Therefore it is of the utmost importance for a man to have as numerous a familia as possible.