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

cH.xxvii.] The Position of Shcykh. 233
of his own tent the ever-chano-inG: site of the rest.
He has, too, certain extra shares in 1)ooty taken, and
of course the place of honour at all meetings, and
the presidency in councils of war. He cannot, however,
levy the smallest tax on his own authority, or
decide on any matter of important interest, nor has
he any thing in the way of body guard or police to
enforce his authority. His orders in small matters
are obeyed, because public opinion is on his side.
Where it is otherwise, they are made no account of.
In most tribes, however, considerable outward respect
is shown to the chief whom they have chosen.
The men rise when he enters their tents, and show
hun the kind of familiar deference paid by well
brought up people to their fathers. It is seldon"
that he abuses this position.
Airs of authority and
command are not tolerated by the Bedouins, and are
seldom assumed by their Sheyklis. It is not considered
well bred either to affect distinction of dress,
or magnificence even in arms ;
and the only man we
saw with any such pretension was Jedd,an's half-witted
son, Turki, who wore a shirt of chain armour. The
Sheykhs, however, may be usually distinguished by
the possession of a sword, an old Damascus weapon
in a shabby scabbard, inherited from remote ancestors,
but the only real superiority shown by them
is one of manner. Good breeding and good birth
are nearly always found together in the Desert.
Jedaan, powerful chieftain as he is,
heels in his want of manner.
shows his rough