Page 171 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

132 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [di.

numbers to welcome us as we passed along.
Several entreated us to remain for the night at

their village; but I was anxious to pass on to
Shirazi, which is described as being the most
extensive and plentiful of all the valleys. Our

reception there, however, led me subsequently

to regret that I did not take advantage of the
kind offer of these villagers ; for a wilder, more
romantic, or more singular spot than was now

before us, can scarcely be imagined. By

means of steps we descended the steep side
of a narrow glen, about four hundred feet in
depth, passing in our progress several houses

perched on crags or other acclivities, their

walls built up in some places so as to appear
but a continuation of the precipice. These
small, snug, compact-looking dwellings have

been erected by the natives one above the
other, so that their appearance from the

bottom of the glen, hanging as it were in mid
air, affords to the spectator a most novel and

interesting picture. Here we found, amidst a
great variety of fruits and trees, pomegranates,

citrons, almonds, nutmegs, and walnuts, with
coffee bushes and vines. In the summer,

these together, must yield a delicious fra­