Page 128 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

VII.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 89

gale continued unabated for three days. On

the third day from their leaving the barrier,

(their small stock of water being consumed
on the first,) they killed the only two of
their camels which could be spared, but the

quantity thus obtained was soon exhausted

amidst so many; and on the fifth morning
two of their females and a young man,

Hamed’s brother, died. On the sixth day
they reached the wells, but their horror may

be conceived when they found them filled
.
nearly to the surface with sand * “ We

* The supply of water is so plentiful in Oman, that we seldom
had occasion to carry it with us; when we did, it was placed in
skins called girbars, and all the hides of the sheep or goats killed
during our journey were kept for this purpose: those of kids or
lambs serve for milk, while the larger are used for either wine or
water. They are tanned with the bark of the acacia, and the
hairy part, which is left without, is generally, though not invari­
ably, cleansed. The apertures through which the legs protruded
are closed up, and the fluid within is discharged through the
opening of the neck, which is gathered together, and fastened by
means of a leathern thong, its extremity being cut in the form of
a tongue or spout. They are slung alongside their camels, and a
Bedowin when thirsty may frequently be observed drinking from
them whilst in that position. They answer better than jars, be­
cause if the camel run against trees or his fellow beasts in the
caravan, they are not liable to be broken, and from the evaporation
constantly going on, the water is also kept perfectly cool, but whilst
new, sufficient attention is not paid to cleansing them, and their
contents thus acquire a loathsome taste and smell. A disagree-