Page 110 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

VL] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 71

afterwards very untractable. Their speed,
when at full gallop, I did not think very great-

perhaps a third less than that of a horse, and
when they are urged to this pace their gait

and movement appear excessively awkward.
Finding the Sheikh who accompanied the

party was a lively intelligent fellow, I pro­
posed to take a run for a few days with him

in his own country. After inquiring my
motives, and finding that it was merely to

live amongst them for that time, he gave a
hearty consent. In the evening I was visited,

as usual, by a large party, and we had some
singing in the Bedowin style.

December 6th. I found the Sheikh and

his followers, consisting of fifty Bedowins,
mounted on camels, this morning all ready
for starting, and we were soon clear of the

skirts of the town, and away at a full trot
over the Desert. The air was cold and pure,

the sun just sufficiently high to render its
warmth agreeable, while the wild appearance

and movements of my Bedowin friends gave

an exhilarating novelty to my sensations:
even the very solitude of the scene rendered
it the more pleasing. While sweeping across