Page 235 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

1.96 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [di.

these occasions, there was a great profusion
of blue and gilt China ware, cut glass dishes,

and decanters, containing not wine but sher­
bet, with several other costly articles. The

Sheikh, after his evening meal, usually passed
several hours with us. I was fond of lead­
ing him to various topics connected with the

tribes in northern Oman, and his conversation
afforded me much interesting and valuable

intelligence.
On one occasion he was accompanied by a

professed story-teller, who appeared to be a
great favourite with him. “ Whenever I feel

melancholy or out of order,” said the Sheikh,
“ I send for this individual, who very soon
restores me to my wonted spirit.” From the

falsetto tone in which the story was chanted,
I could not follow the thread of the tale, and

upon my mentioning this to him, the Sheikh
very kindly sent me the manuscript, of which

the reciter had availed himself. With little
variation, I found it to be the identical Sin-

bad the Sailor, so familiar to the readers of
the Arabian Nights. I little thought, when
first I perused these fascinating tales in my

own language, that it would ever be my lot to