THEIR ORIGIN, HISTORY, TENRTS, AND INFLUENCE. 325 
Hassa and Yemen. The Wahabi state strictly enforced the 
Koran precept concerning the duty of military service. The 
strictest police regulations were observed in camp; after the 
surrender of Mecca soldiers were seen running about with 
lost articles seeking for their owners! Public education had 
no mean place in the Wahabi state. Schools were every- 
where established and teachers sent even to the Bedouin 
tribes; although, as a matter of course, the instruction was 
elementary, its widespread results are yet apparent in many 
districts of Central Arabia. The Wahabi government also 
endeavoured to improve the status of Bedouin society by 
abolishing the system of blood-revenge and tried to make 
the Arabs content with a money payment for the blood of a 
relation. The right of dukheil or refuge was abolished in 
every case where it might be used to screen a criminal from 
the hand of justice. Wealthy individuals and those in 
moderate circumstances paid proportionately in the taxes, and 
the Wahabi state is perhaps the only Oriental despotism that 
ever granted security to the rich from the rapacity of govern- 
ment (Burckhardt, p. 142). Many of the Wahabi laws 
are given by Burckhardt in detail, but they are all founded 
upon the early practice of the prophet and the caliphs, and 
consist of a list of graded penalties for various crimes against 
God and the state. The revenue for the public exchequer 
was derived from four sources. First, according to the old 
law of Mohammed, one-fifth of all the booty taken from 
heretics belonged to the state. Second, the tribute or legal 
alms ( 3G )s amounting to one-tenth, or in some cases one- 
twentieth, of land income and 24 per cent. on merchant profit. 
Third, proceeds of government lands, and lands, flocks, etc., 
wrested from rebellious Arabs. And, lastly, fines levied for 
trespass against the law. The revenue during the reign of 
Saood II must have been enormous. Some Mecca merchants 
estimated the total at two million Arabian dollars annually, 
which is a sum beyond the ken of the half-starved Bedouin 
in the Arab waste. 
All of the above particulars refer to the Wahabi state 
when in its glory. We have seen how it fell into decay. 
Yet, although the great hall of justice at Riadh has fallen 
into ruins, and the Saood dynasty 1s for ever at an end, the 
idea of a purely Moslem state founded on the sword lived 
on; and it will always continue the inspiration of every 
restless fanatic who desires power for himself by reforming 
Islam and butchering unbelievers. 
Y2 
