582 LECTURES AND ESSAYS [1880- 



very near kinsman, who has the right to refuse and say 

 &quot; Go to another for protection.&quot; Having selected a suit 

 able person, the offender approaches him and says &quot;Ana 

 fy wajhak &quot; literally, &quot; I am in thy face.&quot; Doing 

 this he may touch the beard of his protector, or more 

 ordinarily he lays hold of the fringe of one of his garments 

 and ties a knot on it which is called taking any [?] with 

 him. A fragment of the fringe is given as a sign to the 

 man, who in this way becomes the Ddkhil of the other. 

 The protector then simply announces to the kin that 

 such a one is in his protection or &quot; face,&quot; and all revenge 

 is suspended for a year and two months. Before the 

 close of that time the offender, if he has not been able 

 to arrange for a peaceful solution of the difficulty, must 

 seek another protector. Except by a very near relation, 

 the protection of the any cannot be refused. It is, 

 however, indispensable that there should be a small 

 money payment, and that the refugee should make a 

 feast at his own expense in the house of his protector. 

 The customary sum demanded is seven dollars. A man 

 who cannot pay this loses his privilege of the any. 

 There is one way by which the any can be evaded. Sup 

 pose that the first year of protection has almost expired, 

 and it is anticipated that a second protection will be 

 sought, A member of the injured tribe, determined 

 that the revenge shall not be frustrated, may now travel 

 away into some remote district. When the new pro 

 tector is chosen and comes to announce the fact, the kin 

 will refuse to be answerable for the man who has left 

 them, though they are bound to tell him that his right of 

 revenge is foreclosed as soon as he reappears among them. 

 Avoiding his own people, moving stealthily from place 

 to place with covered face that none may recognise him 

 the determined avenger of blood tracks out his victim 

 and slays him. At once there is a tumult. This man 

 was in our protection. No, says the slayer ; I am in my 

 right, for the thing was never reported to me. 



