No hay could be cut nor fish caught without permission from the _vetche_.

Then all shared alike the benefit of the enterprise.
The communes nearest together formed a still larger group called a _Volost_; that is, a canton or parish, which was governed by a council composed of the elders of the communes, one of whom was recognized as the chief.

Beyond this the idea of combination or unity did not extend.

Such was the primitive form of society which was common to all the Slavonic branches.

It was communistic, patriarchal, and just to the individual.