Page 204 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XL] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 165

so unexpected (which was of course imme­
diately published abroad), not only created

suspicions as to the honesty of my views,
but even rendered it questionable if I was in

reality the accredited person I had described
myself to be. It was, therefore, with no
ordinary feelings of gratitude that I found

myself relieved from the probable conse­
quences of these surmises by the generosity

of the prince. The detention, however, to
which this occurrence subjected me, was pro­

ductive of consequences even more serious,
and which for a time completely obstructed

the objects of the expedition.
Several days elapsed before my letters could
reach Lieutenant Whitelock, and during this

period I was repeatedly warned by the
Sheikh that I was risking my health by

staying so long at Neswah ; that strangers
from any part in Oman rarely remained more

than three or four days without being at­
tacked with dangerous fevers. Confiding,

however, in my general health, which was
then excellent, I was heedless enough to pay

but little attention to their advice.
On the 10th all my servants fell sick, and