Page 221 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

182 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

osity towards the sea. We easily crossed all
these on our camels, but in several places the

poor asses, driven before us, lost their footing
in the violence of the current, and were in

imminent danger of perishing. Every part
of the road being flooded, we, in consequence,

soon lost all traces of the track, and, after
floundering about until we were all covered

with mud, I prevailed on old Ali Ibn Megati
to cross over to the sea-beach. The peasants
we met were all, however, in high glee at the

prospect of a plentiful harvest, and the abun­
dant pasturage which would now very shortly

be afforded to their flocks. It is, indeed,
most astonishing to witness the change a

single shower produces on the face of this
country. The most arid and sandy districts

become, with others more promising, com­
pletely clothed with a light grass, which, for

a time, wholly changes the appearance of the
country ; but this, unfortunately, is of brief

duration. The dews at night afford nourish­
ment for a time, but the heat of the sun’s

rays soon predominates, and, in a week or
ten days, all becomes parched and arid as

before.