or SCHECH, among the Arabs, is a name applied to their nobles. "Among the Bedouins," says Niebuhr, "it belongs to every noble, whether of the highest or the lowest order." Their nobles are very numerous, and compose in a manner the whole nation; the plebeians are invariably actuated and guided by the schechs, who superintend and direct in every transaction. The schechs, and their subjects, are born to the life of shepherds and foldiers. The greater tribes rear many camels, which they either sell to their neighbours, or employ them in the carriage of goods, or in military expeditions. The petty tribes keep flocks of sheep. Among those tribes which apply to agriculture, the schechs live always in tents, and leave the culture of their grounds to their subjects, whose dwellings are wretched huts. Schechs always ride on horses or dromedaries, inspecting the conduct of their subjects, visiting their friends, or hunting. Traversing the desert, where the horizon is wide as on the ocean, they perceive travellers at a distance. As travellers are seldom to be met with in those wild tracts, they easily discover such as pass that way, and are tempted to pillage them when they find their own party the strongest."