Page 127 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

88 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [ch.

it, for the hillocks are said to alter their out­

line, and even shift their position with every

strong breeze that blows: they consequently
lose their marks, and very distressing acci­

dents frequently occur. Last night, Hamed
related to me that when a young man, he,

his father, and about twenty of their tribe,
encountered near this spot a party of

Wahhabis, by whom they were defeated, and
compelled to fly with their wives, who ac­

companied them. Several of their tribe had
occasionally crossed the Desert to some wells

about three days’ journey from the barrier,
in the vicinity of which there was water and

good pasturage. Here it was their intention
to have remained until the hostile party had

passed on, and left the road open for their

return. But on the second day they were
overtaken by a strong gale from the west­
ward, which obliterated every trace of the

path, and so filled the air with dust that

they were unable to discern objects beyond
a few yards. In this emergency they
crowded together near a tree, where they

had no alternative but to remain until there

should be a change for the better; but the