Page 478 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)

xxiv.'J SOUTHERN ARABIA. 447

ignorant of the stock from whence he sprang.
This part of Arabia, by the same species of
progressive emigration which I have described
as existing in Oman, is constantly changing
masters. But a few years since the JafFaris
possessed the whole coast; they were super­
seded by the Guthurein, and they again by its &
present occupants. -

Ali Ney, the Sheikh of this town, is a good
specimen of an Arab Chief. His character
for probity stands so high, that difficult judi­
cial cases which occur at a great distance
amidst the Bedowins, are referred to his
I
decision. Our officers were present one day
when a complaint was brought before him
a
that one man in the course of a quarrel had
applied a grossly offensive epithet to the 1
other. The charge was fully proved: " Bad
words beget worse acts/’ observed Ali Ney;

“ let the defendant pay ten dollars. That,”
said he, turning to the officers, “ is a some­

what quicker way than your Kadis in India 1
would have despatched the business.” His
ideas of the tardy operation of British law
were most probably collected from the Ba­
nians who reside here.