Page 246 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XIII.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 207

Mica, slate, and felspar enters largely into
their composition, and 1 spent a considerable
time in examining the singular contortions of

the former. A few aloes, dwarfish bushes
and aromatic shrubs, on which some sheep

browsed, are the only signs of vegetable life
we met with, and at 5'30 we halted on the
summit of a small hill. Old Ali’s appre­

hensions respecting the Wahabis were evi­
dently increasing, for he stationed a guard

with loaded matchlocks to look out during
the night. I learnt, from casually questioning

him on the subject, that his fears arose from
the circumstance of the tract we were now

crossing not being in the possession of Sayyid
S’aid, but in that of his rival Mohammed
of Sohar.

Monday, 7th. At 11 30 we continued our
journey along Wadi Thilah, passing the

mouths of several lateral valleys. Our course
now became so devious that I found it impos­
sible to keep any account of it. At 2 30 we

ascended a hill about eight hundred feet in
height, but I could obtain no other view from

its summit than a vast wilderness of bare,
bleak rocks and hills. After crossing this