Page 298 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XV J. J TRAVELS IN OMAN. 259

himself headlong before his path. Over flew
Tanhn, amidst shouts of laughter from his

tribe; but, nowise disconcerted or annoyed,
the Sheikh arose, and, after joining most

heartily in their mirth, congratulated his op­
ponent on the success of his stratagem. In
wrestling, leaping, and other athletic exer­

cises, his Arabs generally were equally
matched with, and, not unfrequently, had a

decided advantage over our Europeans.
The authority exercised by these chiefs dif­
fers but little from that of the Sheikh govern­

ment on which I have hereinafter touched.
From the fierce and turbulent character of

those they govern, their power is necessarily
of a somewhat despotic nature, yet, in adjust­

ing broils, and in matters connected with the
general interest of the tribe, the opinion of
their old men has great weight. The direct

interference of the Sheikh is, in fact, neither
sought nor often called for; and the tribe is

ruled without the aid of frequent punish­
ments ; for, when its relations are so simple

and so well understood as in Arabia, offences
against the good order of society rarely occur.
In their diet and mode of living these chiefs

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