584 LECTURES AND ESSAYS [1880- 



Al Mas, who has seen a great deal of service, told me 

 that he had been present at a pitched battle only once. 

 This was in the great war against the Aseer. Generally 

 speaking, an Arab invasion is a mere foray. The in 

 vaders scatter, attack the villages, drive off booty, and 

 engage in skirmishes. The fire-arms of the Bedouins are 

 fit only for irregular warfare huge matchlocks, longer 

 than their bearers, which can be fired with effect only 

 from an ambush. In this way of fighting few lives 

 are lost. It is more profitable to capture an enemy and 

 hold him to ransom. To kill more of the enemy than is 

 requisite to square accounts is very unwise, for when 

 peace is made the balance of blood must be accounted 

 for either in lives or money. The humanest side of 

 Bedouin war is the respect paid to women and children, 

 who are never harmed ; yet the women are very bold, 

 and are the first to stir on the men to battle. In the 

 campaign, and even in the heat of a fight, the women 

 follow their husbands or brothers, carrying water to 

 the combatants, urging on laggards, and striking their 

 cymbals over a victory. 



The blood revenge which tends to check fatalities in 

 warfare makes it more difficult to effect a lasting peace. 

 The Shereef in his sphere may often compel combatants 

 to adjust their differences and accept blood-money, but 

 often also scores remain open and give rise to constantly 

 renewed acts of violence. One of the most remarkable 

 consequences of the standing feuds which divide so many 

 tribes is the restriction of exogamy, for a man will not 

 readily marry into a tribe if there is blood between it 

 and his own. 



I mentioned above that in Medina the blood revenge 

 is practised openly, and that the slayer does not need to 

 flee. In this city the Turkish law has even less force 

 than in Jeddah and Mecca, and it is generally reputed 

 that justice is all the better administered in consequence. 

 I was told a characteristic story about the Turkish 



