CHAPTER XYIII. 



" With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for them- 

 selves." — Book of Job. 



Politics iu Tudmtir — A blood- feuti — Ali Bey tho Circassian — In- 

 trigues and counter-intrigues — A meeting in camp — The 

 Mudir lectui'ed on liis duties — News of the Anazeh. 



March 30. — Mohammed's family consists first 

 of all of liis father Abclallah, Sheykh of the village 

 of Tudmiir, an old man of seventy, who, as is usual 

 among the Arabs when they get infirm, gives in to 

 his son in all things and leaves him practically at the 

 head of the house. Then there are Mohammed's 

 two wives, who of course occupy a separate apart- 

 ment, and his mother and some sisters. He has 

 only one child, a little girl of three, and is very 

 downhearted at having no sou, for it is a disgrace 

 to be what they call childless in these countries, 

 that is without male offspring. He talks of 

 going next year iu consequence to the Jof and 

 getting a third wife of his own people, the Beni 

 Laam. He complains that there are very few 

 " noble " families in Tudmur, and hardly any 

 choice for him of a bride among them, for though 

 common wives are to be had in plenty, and at 

 the price of only ten pounds apiece as compared 



