The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-02-22
Government Among the Arabs.

| The principles of government among the
wandering children of the desert are based
upon ancient custom from time immemo
rial, and their civil institutions are well
adapted to their habits and mode of life
Every Arab tribe has it's chief sheik
or principal man, but he has no actual au-
thority over the individuals of his tribe
The real government of the Bedouin con-
sists in the separate strength of their diff
ferent families, who, by their own individ-
ual weight and Influence, maintain an even
| balance in the entire body social of each
TRIBE. If dispute arises between two
individuals, the sheik endeavors to settle
the matter, but, if the relations of the par
ties fail, aided by the sheik's influence, in
making peace, then commences war be-
| tween the whole kindred and families of
| either disputant. The prerogative of the
sheik consists in leading his tribe against
the enemy, in conducting negotiations for
peace or war; after consulting with the
chief men of the tribe, in fixing the spot
for encampments, and in entertaining dis
tnguished strangers. He derives no yearly
income from his tribe or camp on the
contrary, he is obliged to support his title
by considerable disbursements he must
maintain the poor, and divide his presents
among his friends. He derives a certain
income from the tribute he exacts from the
Syrian villages. aud his emoluments from
the Mecca pilgrim caravan. When sheik
dies, he is succeeded in his dignity by one
of his sons, or his brother, or some relation
distinguished for valor and liberality, but
not invariably. Sometimes a stranger to
the family may be chosen, and occasionally
during the lifetime of the sheik, he may be
deposed from his dignity.
There exists in some tribes an official
called the kady, or judge, who is selected
from men respected for their age, intelli-
gence, and love of justice. They wear no
how noIa 1E
laws to refer to, but they receive consider.
able fees and emoluments. A still higher
Judge is me6esshae, of whom there is one
In every principal tribe, for deciding in
cases of great difficulty. The punishments
lnhicted are Invariably pecuniary fines,
according to the nature of the offense, and,
as the amount of these ia we'll known and
dreaded, this has wholesome effect upon
the unruly spirits of tribe. The laws of
inheritance among the Arabs are those pre-
scribed by the Koran, and, on a mans !
death, his property is divided among the
are known to the whole tribe, and, if he |
leaves children under age, the next relation |
takes them under his care.
The law of blood revenge is one terrible |
popularity which characterizes these |
strange children of Nature. In theory. it |
is that, whoever sheds the blood of a man.
owes blood on that account to the family
of the deceased. But not only is blood
claimed from the actual homicide, but from
all his relations, and this right is never
lost it descends on both sides to the latest
generations. Sometimes the feud is healed
by a certain fixed price of blood being |
stipulated to be paid to the nearest rela- |
lions of the slain person. In consequence
Of a single murder, it is sometimes neces-
sary to remove many hundred tents, and
the fugitives move from one tribe to anoth-
er for more than fifty years, until at length
q compromise is made. For those slain in
wars between two tribes, the price of bleod
is required from the persons who were
known to have actually killed them. APP
peals are sometimes made to the me5esshae
to settle by whom a man may have been
killed in battle if the accused denies the
charge" The Alps Of Arabia," by W. c.
Vaughan (London j