The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1885-11-24

In the centre Of Tho town Of Teheran-the
seat Of Government Of Nussir- Deen, the King
Of Kings, the Asylum Of tho Universe-is a
large square; il called the Square Of the Gun.
The huge piece Of ordnance that gives its name
to the place Is very like one OF the cannon
which stand behind the Horse Guards. Clus-
tered around it are group Of weary looking
men. They are safe, for the timo being from
the law, even from the avenger Of blood; the
place is a sanctuary. Under tho shadow or
within touch Of this gun the murderer, even
the traitor is safe. Let him once leave this
refuge, if only for few yards, and the Grim
inal will fall into the hands Of the law or the
clutch of the aveDger Of blood; tor in Persia
the murderer has not so much TO fear the laws
Of his country as the vengeance, legal or 9TH
erwise, Of his victims relatives. Blood has a
price, and the price must be paid, or the Grim
/ iual must be prepared TO shed his own. The
price is not arbitrary !. il is fixed at so much
| for q freed man, another price for woman,
another for 4 slave. Nominally and according
to the religious law, even the hairs Of a man
beard have price Tin camels) If extracted by
violence. And within the last twenty years
we have known case Of Mussulman who
sent in a regular account in this form TO a Eu-
ropean To fifteen hairs from the head of Re-
| ieb, its equivalent being fifteen camels at 20
keTans tki2 sterlingl. Please pay bearer
Seal Of high priest This document was quite
IN legal form, but, as the aggrieved Rajet
was unable to produce any hairs, a trilinr
present satisfied hin. So much for a tooth
so much for an eye; finally so much for a life
And if the guilty person cannot pay this price
then his own life is at the mercy Of the vic
| Tins relatives. Such is the law. But it is
point of honor with the relatives Of muir
dsrcd man not to take money il possible, bu
to extract their right. Hence arise "blooC
feuds." These arc principally observed il
The south of Persia. There, where every mar
is armed TO the teeth, blood feuds arc common
81 must leave you here, sahib, exclaims you
guide, quite matter Of course; 81 have bloOt
feud with the next village, and my life is no
safe beyond this point" Sometimes thes'
"blood feuds" remain unaVenged for man,
years the guilty man wisely, keeping out o
the reach Of the avenger Of blood by remain
ing in a village where the other dare not SHOW
bis face on account Of the Nemesis awaiting
HIM also in that particular district. Tim
sometimes, though rarely heals these feuds.
man gets tired OF being haunted, Of feeling tina
lie may be shot or stabbed at any moment; ant
he compromises; he gives the family of hi
victim house or money or so many bags Q
dates, or perhaps even the hand oil ms daugh
ter in marriage. Or perhaps a youth G
twenty will-shoot an aged man, the murdere
his grandfather, whom perhaps he has neye
seen; and fleeing TO the arms of his dellghte
mother, will exclaim, II have avenged gu
bloodl'-thus bringing 'blood fued' ON hi
own head. These are soue of the results {
the universal practice. in the south OF Persii
of carrying arms 1t must be remembered, toe
l - =. Al. 4 l..
upon with horror he il simply a man VIII
has done his duty. North Of Shirez Ties
blood feuds are uncommon, and an IspahaI
would certainly prefer the price. or, iailin
that, decent sum in cash, to judicial reveng,
As rule in the present day murderer is exc
cuted, and never handed over TO the tendC
mercies of his victims friends, but legally til
relatives can themselves take the guilty man'
life rchange