right to consume their milk and to own a proportion of their progeny. This
custom, practiced widely with local variations, saved the impoverished
from starvation, took care of the most valued property of the wealthy, and
spread the cattle for grazing purposes. It also made a client dependent on
his patron. Indeed, society was very hierarchical. To a considerable extent,
men controlled women, elders controlled youths, patrons controlled cli-
ents, and, as we shall see, chiefs controlled commoners. American an-
23