188 



CIVIL HISTORY AND 



sion, or to choose umpires ; but they cannot on any 

 occasion be compelled to yield, though an adversary 

 may be cited before the cadi or judge. The fees of 

 this officer are considerable, and always paid by 

 the gainer of the cause, never by the loser. 



In cases where difficulties occur, which baffle his 

 powers of sagacity to unravel or decide, the cadi 

 sends the litigating parties before the mebesshae, 

 or chief judge, who subjects them to the trial by 

 ordeal, similar to that employed formerly in Europe. 

 Should his endeavours to reconcile the disputants 

 prove vain, he directs a fire to be kindled in his pre- 

 sence ; he then produces a long iron spoon (used by 

 the Arabs in roasting coffee), and having made it red- 

 hot, he takes it from the fire and licks with his tongue 

 the upper end of the spoon on both sides. After 

 this ceremony he replaces it in the fire, and com- 

 mands the accused person first to wash his mouth 

 with water, and then to lick the spoon as he had 

 done. If the accused escape without injury to his 

 tongue he is presumed to be innocent ; otherwise, he 

 loses his cause. Persons have been known to lick the 

 beshaa, as it is called, above twenty times without 

 the slightest harm. In cases of manslaughter or mur- 

 der, where the accused denies the charge, appeal is 

 always made to this tribunal. 



Corporal punishments are unknown, pecuniary 

 fines being always awarded, of whatever nature the 

 crime may be. An insulting expression, a blow ac- 

 cording to its violence or the part struck, the inflic- 

 tion of a wound from which even a single drop of 

 blood flows, have each their respective fines ascer- 

 tained. Calling a man a dog incurs the penalty of 

 a sheep ; a wound on the shoulder,, three camels. 



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