MECCA. 257 



no laws that could be enforced, no compulsory courts 

 of justice, and no public treasury. The city was com- 

 posed of several families or clans belonging to the 

 tribe of the Corayshites, by whom New Mecca had 

 been founded. Each family inhabited a cluster of 

 houses surrounding a courtyard and well, the whole 

 enclosed by solid walls. Each family was able to go 

 to war, and to sustain a siege. If a murder was com- 

 mitted, the injured family took the law into its own 

 hands ; sometimes it would accept a pecuniary compen- 

 sation — there was a regular tariff — but more frequently 

 the money was refused. They had a belief, that if 

 blood was not avenged by blood, a small winged in- 

 sect issued from the skull of the murdered person, and 

 fled screeching through the sky. It was also a point 

 of honour on the part of the guilty clan to protect the 

 murderer, and to adopt his cause. Thus blood feuds 

 rose easily, and died hard. 



The head of the family was s, despot, and enjoyed 

 the power of life and death over the members of his 

 own house. But he had also severe responsibilities. It 

 was his duty to protect those who dwelt within the 

 circle of his yard ; all its inmates called him " Father;" 

 to all of them he owed the duties of a parent. If his 

 son was little better than a slave, on the other hand 

 his slave was almost equal to a son. It sometimes 

 happened that masterless men, travellers, or outcasts, 

 required his protection. If it was granted, the stranger 

 entered the family, and the father was accountable 

 for his debts, delicts, and torts. The body of the 

 delinquent might be tendered in lieu of fine or feud, 

 but this practice was condemned by public opinion ; 

 and in all semi-savage communities, public opinion 

 has considerable power. 



B 



