Note 9 — Chapter V

Note 9.—On the Title and Office of Wálee. "Wálee" is the title given to the chief magistrate of the police, and was so employed in the time of El-Maḳreezee, instead of the older appellation of "Ṣáḥeb esh-Shurṭah." The same officer was also called "Mutawellee." It was the duty of this magistrate to perambulate the streets at night, attended by a body of his officers, including an executioner; for he often inflicted capital punishment on criminals immediately after their detection. He was invested with a degree of despotic power, and often put to death persons accused of capital crimes without the formalities required by the law. It was also his duty to superintend the infliction of the punishments of criminals legally condemned. An officer was employed to perform the nightly rounds in El-Medeeneh in the reign of Aboo-Bekr; but it appears that the first regular guard for this purpose was appointed in the reign of 'Othmán.324