a fixed quantity of land or boundaries to his property. The
magistrates and chiefs assign every year to the families and
communities who live together, as much land and in such spots as they
think suitable. The following year they require them to take up
another allotment.

[1] Tacitus ("Germania") says that each house "was surrounded by a
space of its own."

"The chief glory of the tribes is to have their territory surrounded
with as wide a belt as possible of waste land. They deem it not only
a special mark of valor that every neighboring tribe should be driven
to a distance, and that no stranger should dare to reside in their
vicinity, but at the same time they regard it as a precautionary
measure against sudden attacks."[2]

[2] Caesar, "Gallic War," Book VI.

84. Folkland.

Each tribe, in forming its settlement, seized more land than it
actually needed. This excess was known as Folkland (the People's
land,[3] and might be used by all alike for pasturing cattle or
cutting wood. With the consent of the Witan, the King might grant
portions of this Folkland as a reward for services done to himself or
to the community. Such grants were usually conditional and could only
be made for a time. Eventually they returned to the community.

Other grants, however, might be made in the same way, which conferred
full ownership. Such grants were called Bocland (Book land), because