'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎675] (774/905)

CHAP. XXV.]
AMONG THE ARABS.
675
possessing the greatest property in a tribe, if at the same time
he have a reputation for bravery and liberality, is elected
sheikh ; and the Malik is chosen from among these to preside
over several tribes.
Unless there should be some decided failure of means or The sheikhs
capacity, the she'ikhship is generally continued in the same taUtyT hospi
family, although in some rare instances a change is made in
favour of a braver, and more generous individual belonging to
another. The sheikh does not, however, derive any revenue
from his followers, but, on the contrary, his patriarchal posi
tion obliges him to keep an open house; for which his own
property, and a proportion of what is derived from the employ
ment of the tribe as carriers, added to a share of the tribute,
and occasionally of the plunder, afford the means. He has
the privilege of leading the tribe against an enemy, and, in
conjunction with the chief men, of settling the terms of
peace. He also regulates the movements of the camp, fixes
the site to be occupied, and has the right of entertaining
strangers. As head of the tribe, he is at once the lawyer and
the judge, and when his authority fails to reconcile the quarrels
of his people, he decides upon the case, and dispenses justice, and dispense
subject, however, to an appeal to the malik; and, in reality, J
his power is very limited. There are few written laws,
except those framed by Muhammed himself; but to these have
been added various customs handed down for ages from father
to son ; so that the petty governments of Arabia have become
mixtures of theocracy, monarchy, and democracy. The sen
tence of the sheikh, which may extend to life, is frequently
commuted at the intercession of a third party, with the
addition of a present; but at the same time there is an under
standing that wherever the delinquent goes, he is bound to
declare his own guilt, as well as the sentence, and the name of
his benefactor.
An Arab taken in the act of robbing an individual belong
ing to his own camp, is condemned to lose his right hand;
but custom allows him to save the extreme penalty by forfeit
ing five she camels. 1 But when a man who has robbed those of
1 Burckhardt's Bedawm and Wahhdbi, p. 100.
4 R 2