Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates Vol 2 - The Search For Mecca

io6 Bcdoiiiji Tribes of the Euphrates, [ch. xx.
riage was arranged, and then to liave thought that
it would be merely a case of " damages " at worst.
But the cousin has demanded the girl
father, or four
herself of the
other daughters in her stead, a preposterous
claim, but one which it seems can legally
be made. As a compromise, the father is willing to
give his only remaining daughter in place of the
one just married ; but the cousin will not hear of this,
and, by way of asserting his right, ran one of the
old man's camels through with his spear. The
whole matter has been referred to ]\Iohammed Dukhi
for decision, and the sheykh's tent is crowded to
hear the verdict.
Abd er Kahman, as a learned jurist of Aleppo,
is especially interested in this lawsuit and has explained
it to us, most fortunately, for we could not
understand it Avithout him. AVhat is now beingdiscussed
is the preliminary argument whether the
case is to be tried by Bedouin or Mohammedan law,
and, though nobody supposes but what the Bedouin
law must prevail, an attempt is being made to
substitute
the other in Jedaan's interests. Abd er
Eahman, who knows the Mussulma,n law, has been
consulted, and has very likely suggested this line of
action to Jedaan, for according to it i\\(^ father's
offer of a second daughter would be held
sufficient
reparation, on the principle that " an injured man if
replaced in the position held before injury, ceases to
be injured." The cousin however appeals to Bedouin
law, which would either annul the marriage or at