It was thus not the god to whom the sacrifice was offered, but the sacrifice itself that was the essential thing, and participation in the common eating of the sacrifice constituted the bond of union.

In early times a sacrifice was the occasion for every important gathering or festivity, as is shown both in Indian history and legend.

And the caste feasts above described seem to be the continuation and modern form of the ancient sacrifice.
91.

Development of the occupational caste from the tribe.
The Roman population, as already seen, consisted of a set of clans or _gentes_.

The clans were collected in tribal groups such as the _curia_, but it does not appear that these latter were endogamous.