The relationship thus formed was considered most friendly, and was connected with the _Geilfiné_ relationship, but the passage which states it is so obscure that it is difficult to attach a definite meaning to it. The children remained with the foster-father till the boys were seventeen and the girls fourteen. The age of the boys was divided into three periods. The first extended till he was seven years old; the second from seven to twelve years, and the third till he was seventeen. During the first period the foster-father might punish him for faults with castigation, and during the second with castigation without food, but for his first fault there were to be three threatenings without castigation, and after the age of twelve he had to make compensation in the usual way, with regard to which there are many minute regulations. On the termination of the fosterage the foster-father returned the children with a parting gift, which was regulated according to the Honor price; and in return, the foster-son was bound to maintain his foster-father in sickness or old age, in the same manner as he would maintain his own father and mother. Such were the leading features of the system of fosterage as presented to us in the Senchus Mor.[218] [Sidenote: Later state of the _Finés_.] The ancient topographical descriptions of some of the territories in the three provinces of Munster, Connaught, and Ulster, which have been printed by the Irish Archæological and Celtic Society, and which have been already referred to as affording illustrations of the tribe system, so far as preserved, likewise indicate the existence of the _Finé_ or sept. Thus in the district of _Corca Laidhe_ in Munster, which consisted of eight _Tuaths_ or tribe territories, in describing the district of _Cuil-Cearnadha_, it is added, ‘These are its hereditary tribes (_Fineadha duchusa_), O’Rothlain its _Toiseach_, and Ua Cuinn, Ua Iarnain, and Ua Finain,’ three septs. Again, of the country or _Duthaich_ of Gillamichil, which formed a _Tuath_, we are told, ‘These were its hereditary leaders (_Oclaich Duthaich_), O’Duibharda, O’Dunlaing, Oh-Ogain, O’Dubhagan,’ etc. It is unnecessary to go through the whole of them, or the _Oclaich Duthaich_ of the other _Tuaths_, as Mr. O’Donovan adds a note which sufficiently explains their relation to the tribe. He says that these _Oglaich_ ‘were the petty chiefs, _Kenfinies_ or heads of families,’ properly septs, ‘who held their lands by the same right of descent from the common ancestor as the chief, or rather _Toiseach_, himself; and they were called ’_Oglaich_, young heroes, because they were bound to assist him in his wars against his enemies at the heads of their respective clans.’[219]