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

cii. XXVII.] Death of Mitbakh, 241
for each death, as in tlie case of homicide ; 1 )ut the
individual shayer is not personally liable for the
amount, which is levied on the whole tribe.
Deatli
in war does not entail a Ijlood feud with the family
of the deceased ; but, if a man is killed in war by
one with whom he is at feud, his death is held to
count in the quarrel.
Though this is the usual humane rule in war, yet
it appears that the life of the Sheykli of a tribe may
occasionally be taken without his " daliil " beingaccepted.
Thus Meshur's father, Mitbakh-iljn-
JMershid, was slain by a party of Koala, who met
him in superior force while the Sebaa and the
Eoala were at war. jMitbakh fled, and being well
mounted would no doubt have escaped, but that his
mare tripped in a jerl3oa-hole, and fell with him.
Then, though disarmed
and dismounted, several of
the Eoala fell upon him and cut him down.
Tliis,
however, is a very unusual instance, and so is what
followed ; for the Sebaa were so enraged at their
chief's death that they hamstrung the mare, which
had caused his fall, and which had followed them
in their flight. In this case a blood feud has been
the result between the Ibn Mershids and the Ibn
Shaalans, a fact which seems to show that the death
of Mitbakh was considered irregular.
Five lives of
the Ibn Shaalans have been taken in return for it,
the last by our young friend Meshiir only a few
months ago. A Sheykh's life counts for no more
than that of any ordinary person, but on this occa-