Page 223 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

184 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

cither side, there is a turreted wall, and,
within the intermediate space, some neat and

substantial houses. I noticed, as a peculi­
arity, several that had pillars in front, sup­

porting a rude portico: this I never observed
in any other part of Arabia. The other ha­

bitations are merely cadjan huts, containing
by far the greatest number of inhabitants.

Including women and children, the popula­
tion of Burka may be estimated at four thou­
sand. A considerable portion of these, as on

other parts of the coast, are employed in fish­
ing, and the remainder attend the date trees.

The bazar is very extensive, and the Be-
dowins flock in from the surrounding country

to make purchases of grain, cloth, &c., and
almost every article procurable in Maskat

may be obtained here. The anchorage at
Burka is an open roadstead, affording no pro­
tection against the prevailing breezes. The

same remark applies to nearly every town on

the coast, and they have, in consequence, but
few bagalas of any burthen trading along it.
Merchandize is brought from or conveyed to

Maskat in small boats, of from thirty to fifty
tons burthen. Vessels of this size upon the