cii. XXVII.] Death of Mitbakh, 241 



for each death, as in tlie case of homicide ; 1 )ut the 

 individual shayer is not personally liable for the 

 amount, which is levied on the whole tribe. Deatli 

 in war does not entail a Ijlood feud with the family 

 of the deceased ; but, if a man is killed in war by 

 one with whom he is at feud, his death is held to 

 count in the quarrel. 



Though this is the usual humane rule in war, yet 

 it appears that the life of the Sheykli of a tribe may 

 occasionally be taken without his " daliil " being- 

 accepted. Thus Meshur's father, Mitbakh-iljn- 

 JMershid, was slain by a party of Koala, who met 

 him in superior force while the Sebaa and the 

 Eoala were at war. jMitbakh fled, and being well 

 mounted would no doubt have escaped, but that his 

 mare tripped in a jerl3oa-hole, and fell with him. 

 Then, though disarmed and dismounted, several of 

 the Eoala fell upon him and cut him down. Tliis, 

 however, is a very unusual instance, and so is what 

 followed ; for the Sebaa were so enraged at their 

 chief's death that they hamstrung the mare, which 

 had caused his fall, and which had followed them 

 in their flight. In this case a blood feud has been 

 the result between the Ibn Mershids and the Ibn 

 Shaalans, a fact which seems to show that the death 

 of Mitbakh was considered irregular. Five lives of 

 the Ibn Shaalans have been taken in return for it, 

 the last by our young friend Meshiir only a few 

 months ago. A Sheykh's life counts for no more 

 than that of any ordinary person, but on this occa- 



