of Mecca, the title of the descen- dants of Mahomet by Hafsan b. Ali. These are di- vided into several branches, of which the family of Ali Bunemi, consisting at least of three hundred individuals, enjoy the sole right to the throne of Mecca. The Ali Bunemi are, again, subdivided into two subordinate branches, Darri Sajid, and Darri Barkad; of whom sometimes the one, sometimes the other, have given sovereigns to Mecca and Medina, when these were sepa- rate states.

Not only is the Turkish sultan indifferent about the order of succession in this family, but he seems even to foment the dissensions which arise among them, and fa- vours the strongest, merely that he may weaken them all. As the order of succession is not determinately fixed, and the sherriffes may all aspire alike to the so- vereign power, this uncertainty of right, aided by the intrigues of the Turkish officers, occasions frequent re- volutions. The grand sherriffe is seldom able to main- tain himself on the throne; and it still seldom happens that his reign is not disturbed by the revolt of his near- est relations. There have been instances of a nephew succeeding his uncle, an uncle succeeding his nephew, and sometimes of a person, from a remote branch, coming in the room of the reigning prince of the ancient house.

When Niebuhr was in Arabia, in 1763, the reigning Sherriff Mefad had fifteen fourteen years on the throne, and, during all that period, had been continually at war with the neighbouring Arabs, and with his own nearest relations sometimes. A few years before, the pasha of Syria had deposed him, and raised his younger brother to the sovereign dignity in his stead. But after the departure of the caravan, Jafar, the new sherriff, not being able to maintain himself on the throne, was obliged to resign the sovereignty again to Melad. Achmet, the second brother of the sherriffs, who was much beloved by the Arabs, threatened to attack Mecca while Niebuhr was at Jidda. Our traveller was soon after informed of the termination of the quarrel, and of Achmet's return to Mecca, where he continued to live peaceably in a private character.

These examples show that the Musulmans observe not the law which forbids them to bear arms against their holy places. An Egyptian bey even professed, a few years since, to plant some small cannons within the compass of the Kaaba, upon a small tower, from which he fired over that sacred mansion, upon the palace of Sherriff Mefad, with whom he was at variance.

The dominions of the sherriffs comprehend the cities of Mecca, Medina, Jambu, Taaff, Sadie, Ghunfude, Hali, and thirteen others less considerable, all situated in Hedjas. Near Taaff is the lofty mountain of Gazvan, which according to Arabian authors, is covered with snow in the midst of summer. As these dominions are neither opulent nor extensive, the revenue of their sovereign cannot be considerable.

He finds a rich resource, however, in the imposts levied on pilgrims, and in the gratuities offered him by Musulman monarchs. Every pilgrim pays a tax of from ten to an hundred crowns, in proportion to his ability. The Great Mogul remits annually sixty thousand rupees to the sherriffs, by an assignment upon the government of Surat. Indeed, since the English made themselves masters of this city, and the territory belonging to it, the nabob of Surat has no longer been able to pay the sum. The sherriff once demanded it of the English, as the possessors of Surat; and, till they should satisfy him, forbade their captains to leave the port of Jidda. But the English disregarding this prohibition, the sherriff complained to the Ottoman Porte, and they communicated his complaints to the English ambassador. He at the same time opened a negociation with the nominal nabob, who resides in Surat. But all these steps proved fruitless: and the sovereign of Mecca seems not likely to be ever more benefited by the contribution from India.

The power of the sherriffs extends not to spiritual matters; these are entirely managed by the heads of the clergy, of different sects, who are resident at Mecca. Rigid Musulmans, such as the Turks, are not very favourable in their sentiments of the sherriffs, but suspect their orthodoxy, and look upon them as secretly attached to the tolerant sect of the Zeidi.