336 SOCIAL STATE OF THE ARABS. 



not only from the actual murderer, but from all his 

 relations. The right of the thar is limited within 

 certain degrees of kindred. In the case of a slain 

 parent, his lineal descendants to the fifth generation 

 inherit the sacred duty of revenging his death on a 

 corresponding series of descendants on the other 

 side. This right is never lost by prescription, but 

 devolves on both sides to the latest posterity. If 

 one death is simply avenged by another, the account 

 is considered to be cleared ; but if two of the assas- 

 sin's family be killed by the relatives of the deceased, 

 the former retaliates. Though murder may be ex- 

 piated by fine or confiscation, it depends upon the 

 next relations of the slain to accept or reject the 

 penalty. If the offer is deemed unsatisfactory, the 

 homicide, and all his kin comprised within the law 

 of vengeance, make their escape to some friendly 

 tribe. A sacred custom allows the fugitives three 

 days and four hours, during which their enemies 

 abstain from the pursuit : the exiles are permitted 

 to return so soon as a reconciliation can be ef- 

 fected. 



The dye, or fine for a murdered man, varies among 

 the different tribes from 1000 to 500 piastres (50/. to 

 25/.), and the sum is often made up by contributions 

 in money or cattle from the friends of the guilty 

 person, who are generally liberal with their assist- 

 ance on such occasions. The Beni Harb in Hejaz 

 fix the price of blood at 800 dollars (175/.). Among 

 the Aenezes it is rated at fifty she-camels, one 

 riding camel, a mare, a black slave, a coat-of-mail, 

 and a gun. Tlie quality of these articles is not 

 much regarded, and it is seldom they are all de- 

 manded, as the wives or daughters of the slayer 

 petition earnestly for some abatement. The matter 

 being finally settled, a she-camel is brought to the 

 tent of the adversary and there killed, that blood 

 may be expiated by blood. The parties, now re- 

 conciled, feast upon the flesh of the animal ; and at 



