GOVERNMENT OP ARABIA. 187 



families, who constitute so many armed bodies, ever 

 ready to punish or retaliate aggression ; and it is 

 this mutual counterpoise alone that maintains peace 

 in the tribe. The most powerful Aeneze chief dares 

 not inflict a trifling punishment on the poorest of his 

 subjects, without incurring the risk of mortal ven- 

 geance from the injured party. The sheiks, there- 

 fore, exercise a very precarious sway, and must not 

 be regarded as princes of the Desert, a title with 

 which some travellers have dignified them. Their 

 prerogative consists in leading their troops against 

 the enemy, in conducting public negotiations, and 

 superintending the general economy of the encamp- 

 ment ; and even these privileges are much limited. 

 The sheik cannot declare war or conclude peace 

 without consulting the chief men of his tribe ; if he 

 wish to break up the camp he must previously ask 

 the opinion and concurrence of his people ; and if 

 the spot which he fixes for the new encampment 

 does not please them, they pitch their own tents at 

 some distance, or join the camp of another tribe. 



The sheik derives no yearly income from his sub- 

 jects ; on the contrary, he is obliged to support his 

 title by considerable disbursements, in the way of 

 presents to his friends and hospitality to strangers. 

 His means of defraying these expenses are the sums 

 which he levies in tribute and plunder, or obtains 

 from the pilgrim-caravans. He acts in a legal as 

 well as in a political capacity ; but in cases of liti- 

 gation he has not the power of executing any sen- 

 tence. The Arab can only be persuaded by his own 

 relations ; and if they fail, war commences between 

 the two families and all their kindred respectively. 

 The parties sometimes agree to abide by his deci- 



