Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/552

 expected, is naturally tending to spread Arab ideas and usages amongst the Tuareg populations. When the marabuts are appealed to as judges or umpires, their decisions are framed in conformity with Koranic principles; but the internal administration of the tribes and families is organised exclusively according to

the national traditions. The sentences pronounced by the sheikhs are usually fines and the bastinado, imprisonment and capital punishment never being legally imposed. In cases of personal injury, the duty of blood vengeance devolves on the outraged party.

Twat, properly so called, is merely a narrow plain skirting the east side of the Saura (Messaura, Messaud) river valley above the point where this stream is lost