Page 103 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

64- TRAVELS IN OMAN. [cH.

from the time they first arrived. The pestle
on these occasions is made to strike the sides

and bottom of the mortar in such time and
manner as to cause it to resemble the chiming

of bells, and the slave usually accompanies it
with a song. As we chatted away, although

Wahhabis, they drank their coffee as fast as
it was brought, and we did not separate until

.
a very late hour *
Saturday, December 5th. When I awoke

this morning I found a man kneeling by me
with a bowl of milk in his hand. I drank it

off, and, accompanied by my escort, walked
over the plain where the British had been

encamped, and visited the scene of Captain
Thompson's defeat; but, on either spot, every

trace of the fierce encounter had disappeared.
Near the former some rude graves were

pointed out to me, but no “ frail memorial ”
served to indicate whether their tenants were

of the party of the victors or of the van­
quished. It may serve to show the siccity,

* I had with me some cigars, but, knowing the aversion those
of that sect have to the use of tobacco, I refrained from pro­
ducing them;—but, by some means, they discovered they were in
my possession, and insisted on my smoking, which, to relieve
myself from their importunities, I was compelled to do.