THE BANDJAR

As the desa Government lost control over the social and economic organization and as the village grew, simultaneously witl the power of the local prince, it became divided into smaller communities within the desa, quarters or wards, the bandjars: cooperative societies of people bound to assist each other in marriages, home festivals, and especially during the expensive cremations. The various bandjars of a village take part in the desa activities, assisting in the repair and improvement of the temples and contributing to the village festivals.

The bandjars have recaptured a great deal of the administrative power that the desa lost to the princes, although they are subject to the present-day Government (that of the Dutch through the princes) , but they remain socially independent within their territory, with their boundaries generally established by the main road on one side, the lesser streets on another, and the rivers and ravines on the outskirts of the village.

They have often ricefields worked communally to provide for their banquets and to enlarge their income, which is mainly derived from fines and entrance fees, kept in a communal bank that lends money to needy members. Everyone enjoys absolute equality and all are compelled to help one another with labour and materials, often assisting a member to build his house, to prepare his son's wedding, or to cremate a relative.

Membership is compulsory; after marriage a man receives a summons to join the bandjar. He is given ample time, but if after the third summons he has not joined, it is considered that he deliberately refuses to comply and he is declared morally " dead," is denied even the right to be buried in the cemetery, and is boycotted from all communal activity.

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