### p55 Mesoamerican political organization > For instance, the halach uinic was the territorial or provincial ruler, with many towns and districts under his domain. The batab was the local head of a town who was often related and subject to the halach uinic. One of the batab's principal responsibilities and obligations to the overlord was the collection of tribute, mainly foodstuffs, from the local populace - [[Domestic Storage Behavior in Mesoamerica#p55 Mesoamerican political organization|View in Vault]]