"
"Indeed!--and how many did you lose in the same time?
"Not above three hundred and eighty."
"But very inferior?" said the Brahmin.
"Why, no," replied he: "as my pastures are richer and more luxuriant
than his, two of my cattle are worth perhaps three of his."
"Is this custom," asked the Brahmin, "an advantage or a tax on your
estate?"
"A tax, indeed! Why it is worth from four to five hundred head a-year."
"And how much is it worth to your neighbour?"
"I presume nearly as much."
"Do your vassals get rich by the bounty you give them?"
"As to that matter, some who are lucky succeed very well, and the rest
make a living by it."
"And what do they give you for the privilege of hunting your neighbour's
cattle?"
"Nothing at all: I even lose my customary rent from those who engage in
it."
"And it is the same case with your neighbour?"
"Certainly," said he.
"Then," said the Brahmin, "it seems to me, if you would agree to lay
aside this old custom, you would both be considerable gainers. I see you
look incredulous, but listen a moment. Each one would, in that case,
instead of having half his neighbour's cattle, have all his own; and,
being kept in their native pastures, they would be less likely to stray
away, and you could therefore slay and eat as you wanted them; whereas,
in your hunting matches many more are either killed or maimed than are
wanted for present use, and they are consequently consumed in waste.
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