GOVERNMENT OF ARABIA. 165 



tence. The Arab can only be porsuaded by his own 

 relations ; and ifthoy fail, war commences between 

 the two families and all their kindred respectively. 

 The parties sometimes agree to abide by his deci- 

 sion, or to choose umpires ; but they cannot on any 

 occasion be compelled to yield, though an adversary 

 may be cited before the cadi or judge. The fees of 

 this officer are considerable, and always paid by the 

 gainer of the cause, never by the loser. 



In cases where difficulties occur which baffle his 

 powers of sagacity to unravel or decide, the cadi 

 sends the litigating parties before the mebesshae, or 

 chief judge, who subjects them to the trial by or- 

 deal, similar to that employed formerly in Europe. 

 Should his endeavours to reconcile the disputants 

 prove vain, he directs a fire to be kindled in his pres- 

 ence ; he then produces a long iron spoon (used by 

 the Arabs in roasting coffee), and having made it 

 red-hot, he takes it from the fire and licks with his 

 tongue the upper end of the spoon on both sides. 

 After this ceremony he replaces it in the fire, and 

 commands the accused person first to wash his 

 mouth with water, and then to lick the spoon as he 

 had done. If the accused escape without injury to 

 his tongue he is presumed to be innocent ; other- 

 wise, he loses his cause. Persons have been known 

 to lick the beshaa, as it is called, above twenty times 

 without the slightest harm. In cases of manslaugh- 

 ter or murder, where the accused denies the charge, 

 appeal is always made to this tribunal. 



Corporal punishments are unknown, pecuniary 

 fines being always awarded, of whatever nature the 

 crime may be. An insulting expression, a blow 

 according to its violence or the part struck, the in- 

 fliction of a wound from which even a single drop of 

 blood flows, have each their respective fines ascer- 

 tained. Calling a man a dog incurs the penalty of 

 a sheep ; a wound on the shoulder, three caniels. 

 The forfeit for killing a watch-dog is remarkable : 



