Page 241 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

202 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

through the centre of it. At four hours the

country alters its appearance ; we have small
hills intersected by deep narrow ravines, at

the bottom of which there is a rich grass, on
which numerous sheep were feeding. At 5'45
we arrived at the village of Feletch.

The whole country seems in a state of great
alarm, owing to an anticipated visit from the

Wahhabis. Ali ibn Negati was constantly
inquiring for intelligence of all we met; while,
on the other hand, the unexpected appearance

of our party created a most amusing scene
of alarm and confusion. Girls and bovs

screamed; men ran for their arms; their
dogs barked incessantly ; while mothers were

seen flying with their children under their
arms, and adding by the shrilness of their

voices, a delightful tenor to the Babel of
sounds with which we were saluted. In vain

Ali lifted up his voice to proclaim who we
were ; it only increased the confusion. I

then suggested that the party should halt
when we reached a small eminence, and send
a single slave to quiet them and explain

matters. This produced the desired effect.
In a few minutes they were all, male and