Can you rephrase that, I don't understand what you mean
Is there a more specific question?
There families were swear enemy's. if they were seen with each other, they would have most likely killed them both, or have been shunned.
The last description makes the most sense, as to how the wording "mob" and "populace" imply them as behaving as group. Called social group psychology, many people "join the crowd" when it comes to supporting or opposing certain events, causes, or acts.