The Sheiks are leaders of numerous tribes of people to whom their word
is absolute law, and whom they command as entirely as a father commands
his children, and for the reason that the tribesmen are in a measure the
children of the Sheik.
In the olden times family life was much stronger and closer than it is
to-day. The father of a family would continue to govern the affairs of
his sons after they had grown up and married and had families of their
own. Until his death, the father would be the ruler of his own group of
relatives, and when he was gone, his eldest son would become the head of
the family in his place.
As the grandchildren grew up and raised sons and daughters of their own,
the family would grow larger; but, while all obeyed their own fathers,
they also obeyed the rulings of the head or chief of the family.
It was the plan of leadership that we read of in the Bible--the
patriarchal system, as it was called.
The clans of the Highlands of Scotland are formed in a similar manner. A
member of a clan is simply a relative, a person of the same blood and
family as the head of the clan, and according to their custom he obeys
the commands of his chieftain.
In ancient times, when a Highland chieftain went to war, he had the
right to call on every man in the clan to join him. None who were able
to answer the call ever thought of refusing.
In the East to-day the patriarchal system prevails as strongly as ever.
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