The subordinate would deliver an annual tribute,usually some exotic or rare item. Later payment was often standardized into ornamental trees made of silver and gold, a Malay practice. In reciprocation, the overlord would give insignia and ritual items which added to the subordinate ruler's status, and perhaps also useful item such as weapons and administrative systems. The overlord would guarantee to defend the subordinate mueang and its ruler from outside threats, and the subordinate in return would undertake to supply troops whenever the overlord needed to mobilize an army. But, in practice, the fulfilment of these agreements was never cerrain