Page 212 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XI.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 173

dently predicted a speedy recovery at Sib :
he even offered to allow two of his own slaves

to accompany us to the coast, which was in a
high degree liberal, for few Mussulmans are

fond of lending their slaves to Christians.
Friday 29th. At 10’50 we left our comfort­
able quarters, and did not arrive at the op­

posite termination of Semayel until 12’50.
Throughout the whole distance an abundance

of water is found. On the heights on either
side the valley, which is about a quarter of a

mile in width, watch-towers have been erected
at various distances, and their appearance,

perched on the summit of some craggy pin­
nacle, is very picturesque. At the termina­

tion of the Semayel grove, another nearly
equally extensive, crosses it in a transverse

direction ; beyond this, with the exception of
a small hamlet, the valley continues desert

and barren, until we arrive at 5’20 at Furza,
where there is a small fort erected on a neigh­

bouring hill, around which are several neatly-
constructed houses. We suffered much in
our present weak state from the heat of the

weather, which in these narrow valleys was at

times truly oppressive. I have often, on such
occasions, admired the patience of the Be-