SOCIAL STATE OP THE ARABS. 377 



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 pre- 

 scription, 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 assassin's family be killed by the 

 relatives of the deceased, the former retaliates. 

 Though murder may be expiated by fine or confis- 

 cation, 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, dur- 

 ing which their enemies abstain from the pursuit : 

 the exiles are permitted to return so soon as a recon- 

 ciliation can be effected. 



The dye, or fine for a murdered man, varies 

 among the different tribes from 1000 to 500 pias- 

 tres (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 assistance 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. The 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 pe- 

 tition 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 



