But in practice the choice is limited to a few persons. The
reverence of the Arabs for blood, and for selected strains of blood,
prevent them, except in very exceptional cases, from changing the
dynasty of their rulers. If the dead man has left behind him a son of
full age and respectable qualities, he will, without dispute, be
acknowledged Sheykh. If not, an uncle, a nephew, or a cousin will be
chosen. Only in extreme circumstances of general danger, or of failure
of heirs male, can the member of a new family reasonably aspire to
power. Moreover, there is no uniform law of election. The meeting does
not pretend to give a right, only to confirm one; for the right lies not
with the electors but with him who can maintain his election. There is,
therefore, no formal system of voting, but the elders having ascertained
who among the dead man's relations commands the strongest following,
proceed to acknowledge him by the ceremony of giving him their hands. He
then becomes their Sheykh. It sometimes happens, however, that parties
are so evenly divided between rival leaders that the tribe divides, one
section going this way and the other that, until one of the leaders
gives in his submission; otherwise the quarrel is decided by the sword.
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