Page 202 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XI.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 163

order to procure the necessary funds for our
journey, as well as to seek some influential

individual to accompany us, for which pur­
pose he left early in the morning of the 3rd

of January. From this period until the 12th
of the same month I was fully occupied with
the map, and in making excursions into the

surrounding country. On my return from one
of these on the morning of the 8th, I found

unexpected intelligence awaiting me.
In my application to government for leave

to undertake my present journey, I had re­
quested that the British agent at Maskat,

Ruben ben Aslan, a Jew, should be directed to
advance me such sums as I might, from time

to time, find it necessary to draw on him; but,
by some inadvertence, consequent to a press

of business when my letter passed Council, no
reply was made to that particular paragraph ;
but, upon referring to the Secretary’s office,

it was thought that, as I was furnished
with a certificate, stating I was travelling

under the direction of the British govern­
ment, and requiring every assistance to be

rendered to me, by those who were desirous
of maintaining its friendship, that it was of

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