Page 406 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XXII.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 367

ment, and it is one to which they are in­
debted for a considerable portion of the

liberty they enjoy. From their jarring in­
terests and natural love of strife, they are
generally at feud with some one, and if a

tribe then finds itself unequal to maintain its
position, it connects itself with another, or

even with several others. These irregulari­
ties, so long as they are confined to them­

selves, are, in a measure, controlled by that
part of their system which renders each par­
ticular tribe amenable not only to the Im4m,

but also to the several other tribes; and in
cases where they suffer by any misconduct,

and remonstrance is found unavailing, they
do not scruple to avenge their wrongs by
the sword. But these wars are neither very

bloody, nor of very long duration. The price

of blood, repugnant as it is to our feelings,
seems not without its benefits, for, as com­
pensation after these encounters is made for

the slain, men’s lives are too valuable to be
wantonly destroyed ; and the death of a few

individuals rarely fails to bring the offending
party to reason.
Thus they proceed in affairs amidst them­