Page 234 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XIII.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. J 95

CHAPTER XIII.

Household of Sayyid Hi lai—A Professed Story-teller—Arabian
Nights—Arab Artillery—Anecdote—Manufactures, $c., of
Suweik—Arab Horsemanship—Weapons—Hire Horses — Bid
adieu to the Sheikh—Shepherds—Kot hr a—Irruption of the
Wahhabis—El abu She'id—Cultivation—Alarm—Desertion of
the Guard—Feletch, Romantic situation of— A ragged Regi­
ment — Mountain Torrent — Cheerful Encampment — Dan­
gerous Ford—Muskin—Progress of Vegetation.

Sayyid Hilal lives in more state than any
other chief I have met with in Oman. The

number of his household slaves is said to
exceed a hundred, and of these twenty or

thirty, attached to his person, wear a neat
uniform. A huge meal, consisting of a great
variety of dishes, sufficient for thirty or

forty people, was prepared in his kitchen,

and brought to us on large copper dishes,
twice a day during the time we remained.
They were all dressed according to the most

approved Persian style, and we soon became
warm converts to their culinary process. On

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