Page 138 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

VII.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 99

per cooking-pots ; and all laughed and chat­
ted with much volubility. Halting imme­

diately after, I received the usual offering of a

sheep and several bowls of milk; but during
the evening I was troubled with but few
visitors.

Monday, 14th. Accompanied by old Saaf I
visited the town, formerly a place of some

note, but now greatly fallen to decay. The
instant you step from the Desert within the

Grove, a most sensible change of the atmo­
sphere is experienced. The air feels cold and

damp ; the ground in every direction is satu­
rated with moisture ; and, from the density of

the shade, the whole appears dark and gloomy.
There are still some handsome houses at

Ibrah; but the style of building is quite pecu­
liar to this part of Arabia. To avoid the damp,

and catch an occasional beam of the sun
above the trees, they are usually very lofty.

A parapet encircling the upper part is tur-
reted ; and on some of the largest houses guns

are mounted. The windows and doors have
the Saracenic arch, and every part of the build­

ing is profusely decorated with ornaments of
stucco in bas relief, some in very good taste.

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