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

138 Bedouin Tribes of the Euphrates, [ch. xxi.
and Tayars notwitlistanding * Among the Sebda,
and the other Anazeh, there is nothing of the sort,
for each section there of the tribes has its own independent
sheykh, and Jedaan's position with them
is merely a personal one. Only the Jerba family
in Mesopotamia can at all compare with the Ibn
Shaaliins
in importance, while in wealth and power
the Koala stand far above the Shammar. With all
this, Sotamm himself does not appear to have much
influence with his people. It is easy to see that he
is weak and irresolute, a mere puppet in their hands.
He is not even their akld or military leader, which
he could not fail to be, if he had any of the qualities
necessary for the position. The Akid of the Eodla
is a little old man named Hamid, Sheykh of the
Majil, a section of the tribe. It was he that led the
ghazu the other day, not Sotamm, though Sotamm
was of the party.
Our reception here has been polite and amiable,
but not particularly cordial. Sotamm complains of
being tired and knocked up with his campaign and
has left us alone most of the day.
In the afternoon,
however, he came with Sheykh Hamid, the Akid,
to pay us a visit, and we took the opportunity to
open negotiations witli him on the subject which
most interests us, our diplomatic mission from
Jediian. Before leaving the Sebaa, Abd er Eahman,
the Aleppine Doctor of Divinity, w^ho is my fellow
* Compare the account of the Drayhy ibn Chaldan in the Eecit de
Fatalla Sayeghir, as given by Lamartine.