CHAPTEE XXVII. 



Political constitution of the Bedouins — Their liberty — Their 

 equalitj' — Their intolerance of authority— Their niles of war- 

 fare — Their blood feuds. 



The political organisation of tlie Bedouins is 

 extremely interesting, for it gives us the purest 

 example of democracy to be found in the world, — 

 perhaps the only one in which the watch-words of 

 liberty, equality, and fraternity are more than a 

 name. 



Liberty indeed is the basis of the whole system, 

 and not national alone but individual liberty, unfet- 

 tered by any restrictions of allegiance either to king 

 or state. The individual Bedouin owes no duties 

 even to his tribe, of which he cannot rid himself by a 

 simple act of will ; nor does he submit to any limita- 

 tion of the sovereign right he possesses over his own 

 person, except by his own free act and in his own 

 interests. If dissatisfied, he can at any time retire 

 from the society he belongs to, without question 

 asked or fear of penalty. His position reminds one 

 rather of that of the member of a political club tlian 

 of a subject or citizen. As long as he is with his 

 tribe, he must conform to certain rules, and he takes 

 part in all its deliberations, but he can at any time 

 withdraw from its authority, if he finds his opinions 



