Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c8.30

c8.30

The inhabitants of a village also jointly bear the responsibility of the theft of cattle which is suspected to have been committed by one of the inhabitants of the village if the foot-marks of the stolen cattle may be followed up into their village and cannot be followed further from there (Nār. 14, 23). The village has definite boundaries on every side which mark it off from the neighbouring villages; see below. In a wide circle round the village extends the pastureland; its breadth should be 100 ‘bows’, i. e. 600 feet, or more according as it is a large village or a “city” (M. 8, 237; Y. 2, 167). On the pasture land, which on that account is reckoned among the indivisible properties (M. 9, 219; Vi. 18, 44), graze and wander the cattle of the inhabitants of the village under the surveillance of the cowherds who have to prevent the cows' doing mischief to the adjoining fields (M. 8, 240 etc.).