that is, the best person of that branch. And the head of all according to the _dera_ of the _Finé_, that is, that every one who is a head should be afterwards according to the _Finé_.’ The following commentary on the qualities required in a chief further illustrates the principles on which the selection is made:—‘The noblest, that is, in age or in race (_Cenel_). The highest, that is, in grade. The wealthiest, that is, in ploughing and reaping. The shrewdest, that is, in wisdom or in mind. The wisest, that is, in learning. Popular as to compurgation, that is, who has good friends with compurgators, that is, good friends outside the territory adhering to him. The most powerful to sue, that is, to prosecute for each of them. The most firm to sue for profits, that is, of the _dibad_ property. And losses, that is, liabilities.’ Finally, ‘the body of each is his _Finé_, that is, the body of each person who is head is his _Finé_. There is no body without a head, that is, of themselves, over them, according to law.’[215] It was the operation of this rule that led to brothers being preferred to sons, and when there was alternate succession the collateral in the same degree was preferred to the son of his predecessor, as being one degree nearer to the common ancestor. [Sidenote: _Sluaged_ or hosting.] The regulations for compelling attendance upon the _Sluaged_ or hosting still further illustrate the relations between the king and the chief of a sept. They are contained in the Book of Aicill, and are as follows:—‘If a man of the _Grad Flath_, with his _Daer Ceile_, came away from it (that is, the hosting), or if the _Ceile_ came away from it, if ordered by the chief, Honor price shall be paid for it, half of which goes to the king of the province and the other half is divided into three parts; one third goes to the king who is nearest the king of the province in upward gradation (that is, the king of a _Mortuath_), one-third to the _Ri Tuath_ who is over those below, and one-third to the chiefs and intermediate chiefs (_Flathaibh_) who are between them in the middle,’ by which latter distinction the two divisions of the _Aires_ of the _Grad Flath_ are intended. ‘If it was a man of the _Grad Flath_ and one _Ceile_ that came away from it, Honor price is to be paid for it also; and the share which the _Ceile_ should pay, if all the _Ceile_ had been concerned in it, is what he is to pay now, and the remainder is to be paid by him (that is, the chief), and the same division is made of the half for the king of the province, and the other half is divided into three parts.’