note: Significance of their small size.]

The mountains, by the segregating power of their ridges and ranges,
first produce these little independent communities, and then, throwing
around them strong protecting arms, enfold them in an embrace which long
provides security to them in their weakness. These minute mountain
states, therefore, tend to reflect in their size the isolation of their
environment, and indirectly the weakness of the surrounding nations. The
original Swiss _Eidgenossensschaft_ of the four forest cantons, embedded
in the high Alps, braced against a mountain wall, held its own against
the feeble feudal states of Austria and Germany. The rugged relief of
Graubuenden and the spirit of freedom cradled there enabled its peasants
in the Middle Ages to overthrow the feudal lords, and to establish a
federal republic. This typical mountain state was a league composed of
three other leagues. Each component league consisted of a group of
districts, having the power of sovereign states, and consisting in turn
of a group of communes, which were quite independent in local affairs.
This triune league formed in time an alliance with the Swiss
Confederation, but did not become a member of it till the Vienna
adjustment of 1815. Similar is the story of the mountain shepherds of
Appenzell, who formed a little peasant republic, despite their bishop
overlord of St. Gall; and who later during the Reformation, on the
ground of religious differences, divided into two yet smaller
states.[1387] The relation between size and inaccessibility is most
strikingly illustrated in the high Himalayan ranges west of Kashmir and
north of the Punjab. Here is the Shinaka district, which includes the
Chilas, Darel, Tanger and other valleys branching off from the Indus,
and which is inhabited by Dards of Indo-European stock. Each Shinaka
valley is a small cantonal republic, and each village of each republic
is a commune managing its own affairs by an assembly. One settlement of
only twelve houses enjoys complete autonomy. Besides the village
assemblies there is a state parliament handling questions of general
policy, to which each village sends representatives. One dissentient
vote can defeat a measure. The majority cannot control the minority; for
if one village of a state disagrees with the others, it is free to carry
out its own policy, even in the matter of foreign alliances.[1388] Here
is home rule run to seed.

[Sidenote: Slight power