The tie which bound these groups together, and united the chain which connected the _Ardri_ with the _Ri Tuath_, was the same which linked the latter with his dependent chiefs, and those with their _Ceile_. The dependence of one upon another possessed the invariable feature of a gift or subsidy from the superior to the inferior, and corresponding duties from the inferior to the superior. In one of the law tracts the gift from the superior appears as _Taurcreic_, or proportionate stock, and the return as _Bestighi_, or food-rent of the house, and ranges from a _Taurcreic_ of five Seds, and a _Bestighi_ of a wether, with its accompaniments, consisting of cakes, milk, and butter, as the lowest for the _Fermidba_ to a _Taurcreic_ of fifteen _Cumhals_, or forty-five cows, and a _Bestighi_ of eight cows for the _Ri Tuath_.[172] We derive the fullest information on this subject from the ancient tract termed the Book of Rights. We there see the gift or _Tuarastach_, as it is there called, made by the _Ardri_ to the different provincial kings, by them to the kings of the respective _Mortuath_, and by the latter to the _Ri Tuath_; while the corresponding returns made by the inferior to the superior king consisted first of a small fixed rent, which in one case consisted of a _Sgreaball_, or threepence, from each _Baile_ or township,[173] and a tribute termed _Cobhach_, which included, in the case of Munster, a submission paid in cattle, termed _Smacht_, and a _Biathad_ or refection; and each king was entitled to a maintenance when going beyond his own territory, called _Coinnim_, corrupted into Coigny; and besides these, service in war was due from each inferior tribe to the superior, distinguished into _Feacht_ or expedition, and _Sluaged_ or hosting. The number of fighting men each _Tuath_ had to provide was 700, and each _Mortuath_ three companies, or 2100 men. [Sidenote: The system of fines.]