nd set fire
to the corn, which was consumed. The proprietors of the barley
applied to the sheik for justice; and A, B, C, and D, the owners of
the mule, were summoned to appear. The sheik, finding the leg which
caused the barley to be burnt, belonged to D, ordered him to pay
the value of the barley. D expostulated, and maintained that he had
no right to pay; for, if it had not been for A, B, and C's portions
of the mule, the barley would have remained. "How so?" replied the
sheik. "Because," quoth D, "the leg which belongs to me cannot
touch the ground; but it was brought to the corn-field by the legs
of A, B, and C, which were the efficient cause of the ignition of
the barley. The sheik reversed his decree, and ordered A, B, and C
to pay the damage, and D got off without expense.

[Footnote 198: _Kadis_, i.e. judges. _Talbs_, i.e. record
writers. _Kadi_ is generally spelt by the Europeans of the
south _Cadi_, because they have no K in their alphabet: the
Arabs have no C; the letter is _Kaf_ or K, not C.]

313
_Customs of the Shelluhs of the Southern Atlas, viz. of Idaultit_
(_in Lower Suse_.)

The mountains of Idaultit are inhabited by a courageous and
powerful people, strict to their honour and word, unlike their
neighbours of Elala. They make verbal contracts between themselves,
and never go to law, or record their contracts or agreements,
trusting implicitly to each other's faith and honour. If a man goes
to this country to claim a debt due, he cannot receive it while
there, but must first leave the country, and trust to the integrity
of the Idaultitee, who will surely pay when convenient, but cannot
bear compulsion or restraint. They do not acknowledge any sultan,
but have a divan of their own, called _Eljma_, who settle all
disputes between man and man. These people cultivate the plains,
when there is no khalif in Suse; but when there is, they retire to
the fastnesses in their mountains, and defy the arm of power;
satisfying themselves with the produce of the mountains.

_Connubial Customs_.

The (_shereef_) Prince Muley Bryhim, son of the present Emperor
Soliman, was married to the daughter of the bashaw Abdrahaman ben
Nassar, who was powerful and rebellious, and prevented the Emperor
for some time from procee