cH.xxvii.] The Position of Shcykh. 233 



of his own tent the ever-chano-inG: site of the rest. 

 He has, too, certain extra shares in 1)ooty taken, and 

 of course the place of honour at all meetings, and 

 the presidency in councils of war. He cannot, how- 

 ever, levy the smallest tax on his own authority, or 

 decide on any matter of important interest, nor has 

 he any thing in the way of body guard or police to 

 enforce his authority. His orders in small matters 

 are obeyed, because public opinion is on his side. 

 Where it is otherwise, they are made no account of. 

 In most tribes, however, considerable outward re- 

 spect is shown to the chief whom they have chosen. 

 The men rise when he enters their tents, and show 

 hun the kind of familiar deference paid by well 

 brought up people to their fathers. It is seldon" 

 that he abuses this position. Airs of authority and 

 command are not tolerated by the Bedouins, and are 

 seldom assumed by their Sheyklis. It is not con- 

 sidered well bred either to affect distinction of dress, 

 or magnificence even in arms ; and the only man we 

 saw with any such pretension was Jedd,an's half-witted 

 son, Turki, who wore a shirt of chain armour. The 

 Sheykhs, however, may be usually distinguished by 

 the possession of a sword, an old Damascus weapon 

 in a shabby scabbard, inherited from remote an- 

 cestors, but the only real superiority shown by them 

 is one of manner. Good breeding and good birth 

 are nearly always found together in the Desert. 

 Jedaan, powerful chieftain as he is, shows his rough 

 heels in his want of manner. 



