Page 350 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

102 A 0 'f IN* 1ST!! A TI ON RKI’OKT OF TIIK I'KIiSlAX GULF POLITICAL residency
with any other class, owing prohaldy to their having become gradually
absorbed into the Aral* rare; the slaves generally imported from Ahviu
sinia being of the female yx, their progeny hy their Arab masters, as in
the case of other slaves, has been considered Arab, although as n race it
ought, to he considered distinct from the real and original Arab stock
owing to certain peculiarities of constitution and physcial appearand's.
A few Nubians too form a part of the fixed population of Muscat, 'fhe
Srdee or Negro, although hardy and capable of undergoing a great
amount of exertion, is characterised hy the same frivolous nature and
lightlies* of heart, as everywhere else. Generally engaged in menial
occupations and as laborers and workmen, the men seem to maintain a
good state of health up to the age of about 10, when the decay of both
physical and mental jwwer s«vms to he rapid and out of all proportion
to the previously nourishing condition.
The women, to whose lot generally falls the easier portion of domestic
work, are less subject to disease. Chronic muscular ami articular rheuma­
tism seems to be a common complaint with the Negroes after a certain
age; this may be attributed partly to their being more exposed than any
other class to the sudden changes of weather, and amongst men prin­
cipally to gonorrfaea. The Abyssinian, naturally more delicate and of
the same low degree of physical and nervous staminas in his own native
country, is less aide to withstand the effects of climate and disease than
his neighbour the Scdee. lloth men ami women, but the latter more
particularly, si cm to have dormant in them from an early age, those
eitmlitii'iis *»f blood, which under the influence of any exciting cause,
Mi.-h a* an exjiesuro to sudden changes of weather, imperfect ventilation
of dwellings «*r mental shook or grief, especially as the result of bad
treatment from masters and others of whom they may be \ery fond,
give rise to phthisis pulua.nalis and other tuberculous diseases.
Tli»* mixed race, eom|»o<rd principally of the different degrees of
admixture U'tween the Arab and the Negro, and the Arab and the Abys­
sinian, forms a considerable class, although not considered by the Arabs as
tiallv distinct, from themselves. Their number may be supposed to
C'JSi’U
exreed 1 tl»ou-and. The Arab Negro, although be inherits a portion
of tie* physical vigour and hardihood of his mother, is a weaker being,
and is more subjeet to disease. The Arab Abyssinian, whose regularity
of feature* and languid expression of countenance l>etray the Abyssinian
blood, would seem to fa» peculiarly liable to phthisis pulroonalis, which
in bis ease is generally of a chronic nature, and extends over years. He
in faith physically and mentally weaker than either of his parents,
and his progeny seems to Ik* short-lived, rarely extending beyond the
the second or third generation, unless fresh admixture with Arab blood
take* place.
The pure Arab element is remarkably small, which is as might be
cxpect4*d under the existing social and domestic customs. The race is
facing gradually absorbed by the mixed race, owing to the easy means
of slave concubinage and the legitimacy of its product, sanctioned by
the Great Aiab prophet. The town Arab is physically weaker than the
Bedouin Arab, but mentally much superior to the latter. The town Arabs
as a rule are thin, well built, have a manly appearance, and retain a £0°~
deal of the original physical power of euduruuce possessed by the Aran