Not even temporary defeat and slavery deprived a tribe of its land: nothing did that but permanent expulsion followed by actual seizure and occupation by the conquerors.

Failing this, the right of the beaten side lived on, and could be reasserted after years of exile.

The land was not the property of the _arikis_ or chiefs, or even of the _rangatiras_ or gentry.

Every free man, woman and child in each clan had a vested interest therein which was acknowledged and respected.

The common folk were not supposed to have immortal souls.
That was the distinction of the well born.