SINAI PENINSULA

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 February 1915, Page 3

SINAI PENINSULA

A VAST DESERT. PECULIAR XATIVE CUSTOMS. in a recent issue of the Indian "i'ionee-r" an interesting description or the country through which the Turkish army is to attempt an attack o.n the Suez Canal, is given by the vairo correspondent oi that paper. Jne Sinai Peninsula, ho says, is one vast piece ol arid desert. A feu snrubs and trees grow in the "Watlis" (valleys) that run across it, but otherwise there is no vegetation. There are a mw springs, but ol very little importance, and water lias to be obtained oy sinking wells or uy digging; even tins is in many parts useless as the water obtained is brackish. The JJritisn officers whose fate it. lias been from time to time, to be stationed in the .Peninsula, declare it to be God-for-saken spot-far worse than the Sou uan. In the latter it is possbile even in tho most outlaying parts to create some semblance of a garden, but in the femai this is quite out ol the question, and no amount of Hater will cause

anything to grow no matter how much trouble or care is devoted thereto.

The population, of the Peninsula is lor this reason very sparse, and it is

not thought that is exceeds 30,000 souls. All are of Arau origan, with tne exception of the Gabalia tribe, winch is believed to be descended from the soldiers that tho Emperor Justinian sent in the sixth century to de-

rend the famous Sinai Convent from the attack of the Jocal population.

lit if the population n> small, it w>

none tho less distinct from all other Arab tribes in the adjoining counti'y, and it lias its own system of justice, which is, to say the least of it, quaint.

ine system of taking Wood-money and hereditary vendetta that is being eradicated with such difficulty in Egypt, exists in fill force in tho Sinai. If a man kills another in time of peace the relatives of the murdered man, beginning from the father down to the ntth generation, have the right to evenge or pardon against the payment OL blood-money—Elinadda, fixed at forty-one camels and paid in instalments—by the murderer or by his relatives to the fifth generation. If one oi the murdered man s near relatives accept the blood-money, all have to accept and shedding of blood becomes illegal.

ii murdered man and murderer are of the same tribe, the latter or his relations have to give a girl in marrage to one of the former's l-elations without receiving'the usual dowry, but js soon as the girl gives Birth to a child she is free to retiu-ii to nor own family cm- to remain with her husband. ft she remains the latter has to> pay the usual dowry and celebrate the marnsgo afresh. Tho camels may be gTven in" lieu of the girl.

Should a man kill another in a deao-late-'"spot and, deny the crime, but be lound guilty thereof, he is fined , four Haddas. But the relations of the victoiu may kill one man of the murderer's tribe, in which case they take uireo Maddas only. Generally they taue merely one blood-money, grant pardon in exchange for a .second, nnd distribute the third in alms for the soul of their dead relative.

A curious custom is 'El Wisawa-." which allows anyone who think Kβ'% (mended, to raid for camels as a pledge lor unpaid rights. The raider puts me camels in charge of someone as a pledge, until his opponent agrees lo lay the case before the judge. The judicial system is elaborate and intricate, and the judges are «f many categories with varied duties. El Mubashua is one of these and is the judge who deals with those criminal ca,ses where, no witnesses are fortlicoming, and who tests the suspected person by the ordeal of tire, water or dream. Testing by water is done as follows: —ifil Mubashaa sits in a circle with t'io accused and the spectators, a copper jugful of water being placed in tTie centre. By means of witchcraft or hypnotism, the jug is made to appear to revolve around the people assembled , , ii it stops in front of the judge the accused is innocent. If it stops in tront of the latter he is declared guilty. Testing by fire is earned out in ■""■''

following manner:—The judge makes a ipan red hot. He wipes it three times with his Hand and passes it on the accused fb lick Thrice with his tongue. T£ his tongue shows signs of burning lie s declared guilty, the idea being that fte i ear of being declared guilty causes the tongue to become dry.. Two experts assist the judge on this occasion. As for the testing by dream the judge goes to sleep and sees in his dream—

ii he has any—whether the accused is guilty or innocent.