Page 414 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XXII I.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 375

CHAPTER XXIII

Administration of Justice—Family Feuds—Anecdote—Religious
Toleration—Districts of Oman—Responsibility of the Sheikhs
—Right of Appeal—Police—Revenge of Injuries—Govern­
ment Resources—Revenue—The Imam's Household—His
Munificent Character—Standing Army—Feudalism in Oman
—Population—Towns—Map of Oman.

In the administration of justice at Maskat,

the Kadis take cognizance of all minor
offences; but the Imam decides those of

a graver cast. Although his power in every
case is absolute, yet his aversion to the spil­
ling of human blood might form a lesson to

more civilized potentates: for murder, and
murder alone, is the punishment of death

inflicted. In the more distant towns, Sayyid
S’aid has found it impracticable to abolish

the sanguinary custom (which exists there in
common with other parts of Arabia) of the

friends of the deceased retaliating on either