Page 322 - PERSIAN 3 1883_1890

26 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

22nd.—Having procured fresh baggngo camels we rode to-day in the direction of the
Akbat-ol-Barak, by which wo intended to cross over to Dkahireli. Our road led over a Atony
plain crossed by numerous water-courses and very barren. We passed several villages —
Homreh, Ghumriycr, and Belad Sait, bo.,—the inhabitants of which wero in a very
excitod state and usually fired at ns on our approach, br*fc they quieted down very easily always
when Shaikh Nasir Kclbani had explained who wo wero. The cause of the panic wa* that a
troop of Jcncbeh had ridden by in the night; we could see the footprints of their camels;
and as they aro at feud with the Beni Hinah, who occupy these villages and are the predominant
tribe in these parts, it was oxpectcd that tho Jenebeh wero on the war-path, and tliat their
object was to raid the district. Wo heard to-day also that a band of seventy mounted
marauders, coming from Dbahireh to raid the outskirts of Manh, had crossed the Nejd-el-
Makhariin and camped near Yabrin tho day we had loft it, and our party congratulated
themselves that wo had not gone by that road. We now entor the Wady Ghol, which
unites with the Wady Shams lower down to form the Wady Bahilah, and ascend its broad
bed, here tolerably well wooded and inhabited by shepherds, for two hours, until wo reach a
hamlet called Mithar, near which we halt and bivouao for the night at an elevation of
2,600 feet.
23rd.—The crossing of the pass to-day took us nine hours, and the camels were rather
tired when we reached our destination in tho Wady Ain at 4 p.ir. Continuing to ascend the
Wady Ghol, which becomes gradually rougher and steeper, we reach the summit about
11 a.m., and find that the barometer indicates 3,700 feet. From this point we look down a
small valley running south, called the Wady Seifam, and then commence to descend the other
side of the Akbat-eUBarak, the Jebel-el-Kor here towering 3,000 feet above us. After
crossing a small stretch of level ground, the road falls into tho Wady Ein, a Large and
seemingly important valley, with a running stream trending westwards. At 2 p.m, we
arrive at Hail, a village of the Beni Hinah, under a jagged, square, perpendicular cliff called
Jebel Misht, or Mount Comb. Our approach threw the villagers at El Bin into some
trepidation, and they fired a volley at us, one of ocr camels having his leg grazed by a
bullet. They afterwards apologised and explained that they were not accustomed to see so
large a party enter their valley. It appears to be the fashion at the larger towns for the
soldiers to salute distinguished strangers with blank cartridge; at the smaller and more
defenceless places, they sometimes salute you with bullets, but Arabs are so skilful at missing
with their quaint matchlocks, that there is very rarely any harm done. The people here gave
me the names of several hamlets existing in the ravines and valleys formed by the spurs
of Jebel-el-Kor, Shedait," “ Nad an,” “ Sint," u Sunt," &c.
Early the next morning we continued our journey down the Wady Bin for some way,
and then turned off to the right to Bat, a village of the Beni Kelban, with two towers and
four hundred inhabitants, where we halted for an hour; distance about 12 miles. We then
proceeded on to Wahaireh, at which place the watchmen maintained ^ desultory fire on us
for some time until we expostulated, and mutual explanations resulted in a treaty of peace;
the people then came out in procession to welcome us and insisted on our staying with them
for the night, which we agreed to do, and they treated us very hospitably. There is a good
stream of water here, and the cultivation around includes wheat, indigo, sugar-cane, jowaree,
plantains, mangoes, lucerne, dates, limes, be., be.
23th December.—heft Wahaireh early and rode to Dereez, a town 8 miles farther on,
where the Shaikh and his people came out in a very friendly way to gTeet us; those on
horseback running races with each other, while the others stood around chanting their war
songs. There is a small tumble down fort here with two guns; population about 1,200,
all Beni Ghafir. After a short halt I left Dereez and rode on to visit the fort of Einein,
a famous bone of contention in this country for many yeare past. It is merely a large
house flanked by two towers, and did not appear to me a strong place. There is a large date
grove near, watered by three felejes which are commanded by the fort; but there are no
inhabitants. After Einein we passed Iraki, a village of the Ibriyeen, and then Ghabbi,
formerly a large town, now in ruins, having been destroyed by the Beni Ah in local
wars some ten years ago. At 2 p.m. we reached Obri, and.soon after one of the camel-
men came in and complained of having been looted by robbers on the road. He had
lagged behind and had been cut off by two scamps who had taken his matchlock and
dagger and a bundle of clothes belonging to my servant, but bad not touched the photo-
graphio kit and other baggage on the cameL The camelman was a native of this place
and had imagined the thieves would not molest him, but they are no respecters of persons.
On enquiry it turned out that the two robbers were part of the band of seventy who had gone
on a marauding expedition to Oman as mentioned above. They had attempted to plunder a