Page 210 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XI.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 171

something of this kind might occur, arrived

at the moment, and soon brought them to
order, and at twelve hours we quitted Byah.

The country we are passing over continues
along a valley, and is nearly the same as that
described yesterday. The hamlets, fresh

water, &c., are equally numerous ; they all
appear on the map, and a mere insertion of

their names, when no other distinction marks
them, would answer no useful purpose. The

hills on either hand are of a micaceous schist,
of nearly equal height; they have usually a

pyramidal outline, are rugged, and of a dark
colour, crossed by veins and patches of a

lighter grey. There is, however, a consider­
able change in the appearance of the soil; as

we approach the coast it becomes more sandy
and of a lighter colour. Instead of occurring

in open plains, as within the oases, the groves
are now found in narrow valleys, and in place

of a falodge, all the streams leading to them
.
are above the surface * Fruit and grain be­
come more scarce, and the date palm forms

the principal object in sight. At five hours
we halted at the south-east termination of the

* These streams are styled Tas’l.