The object of this essay is to inquire how far, in the case of other tribes, evidence may be found of the working of somewhat similar tribal instincts, resulting in customary rules more or less like those of the Cymry, so that at last, turning attention to the Anglo-Saxon laws, we may be able all the more fully to recognise and appreciate in them the traits of tribal custom, which among other factors went to the making of Anglo-Saxon England. In the meantime, for future reference, the following list of the galanas of various classes will be found convenient:-- The chief of kindred 180 cows In Gwent and Dimetia 540, The uchelwr 120 ” and his family 180 Man with family without office 80 ” The innate boneddig unmarried 60 ” The alltud of the brenhin or chief 60 ” The alltud of uchelwrs 30 ” Bondman 1lb. of silver or 4 ” Bondman from beyond sea 6 ” [Illustration] CHAPTER III. _THE EVIDENCE OF BEOWULF ON TRIBAL CUSTOM REGULATING FEUDS &c._ [Sidenote: What were the laws of the blood feud?] The object of the short study, in this chapter, of _Beowulf_, is to learn what incidental information it may give of tribal usage regarding the _blood feud_, especially on points which, in the case of the substituted wergeld, present doubt and difficulty.[59] Allusion has already been made to some of these points. Did the rule excluding galanas or blood-fine within the kindred extend beyond the gwely to the greater kindred? What happened to a tribesman in a feud between his paternal and maternal kindreds? Did he abstain from taking sides, or did a marriage so far unite two families or kindreds as to make them one for the purpose of blood-fine or feud, so as to prevent the feud or blood-fine from arising? These are questions upon which we want light from the point of view of Welsh tribal custom, and upon which we approach Beowulf for light, with eyes open also to other matters of tribal usage as they may turn up. [Sidenote: An 8th century story of blood feuds.] Beowulf for the present purpose may be taken as an Anglian or Northumbrian recension of a story founded upon Scandinavian tradition, and designed for use or recital at some 8th century royal court--possibly, if Professor Earle’s suggestion be correct, that of King Offa. The western horizon of the story extends to the Frisian shores, but the scene seems chiefly to lie in the Baltic. The plot involves tribal relations between a chieftain of the Danes possibly of Zealand, and two Swedish chieftains. The two latter concern us most, and they seem to be the chiefs of two kindreds--Geats and Swedes--Beowulf himself being the link between them, his mother having married from one into the other kindred. This marriage at any rate was one _between_ two kindreds.