Single Combat

Single Combat has always been, among semicivilized nations, a favorite resort to decide a dispute without the effusion of much blood. Classical history abounds with instances. The Bible also gives a few noteworthy cases, of which the contest between David (q.v.) and Goliath is the most remarkable. Similar customs still prevail among the Arabs (Burckhardt, Notes on the Bedouin, p. 174). The practice has in modern times degenerated into that of duelling. See the monographs on the subject cited by Volbeding, Index Programmatum, p. 160.