Page 220 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XII.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 181

gardens and the richest vegetation. Fields
of wheat and barley continually presented

themselves springing from a dark and loamy
soil.

At 5 30, being overtaken by a violent
squall, we were happy to obtain shelter in
a wretched building called a Bedowin fort.

The rain fell in torrents, and the thunder
and lightning were truly awful: at times it

blew a hurricane, and the camels grew so
alarmed that, though turned adrift to browse

on the herbage around, they crowded about
the door whenever it was opened, and en­

deavoured to effect an entrance. Some fe­
males, who had. followed the party from Sib,
were crying all night with fright and cold,

for the roof of the small space in which we
had crowded, admitted the water in every

direction, and all were completely drenched.
I was most happy when the dawn of day per­

mitted us to crawl out of our den, and warm
our cramped limbs in the sun.

Friday, 26th February. Last night’s heavy
rain has filled the hitherto dry beds of all

the streams, and now, having overflown their
banks, they are rushing with much impetu­