'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎676] (775/905)

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PUNISHMENTS FOR CRIMES. [CHAP. XXV.
Punishments another tribe, is taken by those whom he has plundered, he
for robbery, -g at length i n ahole about two feet deep, with his hands
tied, his feet chained, and his hair twisted to a stick on each
side of his head. Tent poles, corn sacks, and other heavy
articles are then heaped over him, leaving barely the power
of breathing, so that his alternative is either a miserable
death, or the payment of the highest possible ransom. 1 In
the case of an attempt to rob the pilgrims, the usual mode of
punishment is to impale the robbers at the moment the cara
van starts for the next station, leaving them to perish on the
stake, or to be devoured by wild beasts. 2
In the case of an unseen murder, the accused is obliged to
lick a hot iron with his tongue. If burnt, he is pronounced
guilty; and if not he is set at liberty : but he is liable to for
feit a camel to the judge.
Tortures Besides the preceding punishments, there are some peculiar
inflictedf ly to the Arabs which are singularly cruel; but, happily, now
almost obsolete. To extort money, the Aniz^h sew up the
individual to the neck in a fresh camel's skin, which, being
quite tight at first, causes such pain as it dries, that he soon
gives in. Another punishment is to put him into a well
covered with skins till he is almost suffocated. Elsewhere an
iron visor is gradually screwed tighter under the chin till the
effect is produced; or a bag of red pepper is tied over the
mouth and nostrils, which being necessarily inhaled with the
breath, painful suffocation is speedily the consequence. But
the most refined cruelty said to be exercised by the Arabs is
the prevention of sleep, a whip being applied for this purpose
till the protracted torments of the unfortunate individual are
terminated by death.
Supplicants No cruelties are ever exercised upon an individual who has
iri a formal manner sought the protection of the chief of the
tribe whose hostility he has reason to dread. One form of
appeal is to seize the tent pole of the she'ikh, and call out
for his protection ; another is to throw a stone and hit him.
1 Burckhardt's Bedawin and WahMbi, p. 93.
2 Burckhardt's Travels in Arabia, vol. II., p. 129.