Page 250 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XIV.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 211

three hours in one uninterrupted war of

words, I was too happy to resign to old Ali,
who entered with all an Arab’s eagerness and
talents for disputation into its full spirit.
The patience of an Englishman (I advance
the remark advisedly), however extensive his

travels, would assuredly fail him on such
occasions in a few minutes, and the wily Arab
wishes no better advantage. Not so my friend

Ali, who, confident of his own consummate
address, appeared perfectly in his element.
Their bargains usually commence in a low
tone, by one party naming a price, ten times
greater than what he intends to take, or ex­

pects the other to give : a sneer, or stare of
well-feigned astonishment, is the only answer:
the debate gradually becomes warmer, and the

parties shift their seats from one spot to the
other. At one time old Ali’s voice could be
heard shouting high above that of his oppo­
nent ; at another time, huddled together in
some hollow, as if afraid the very winds might

bear away some part of their counsels, I could
just catch the sound of his voice, exerted in
tones of pathos, reproach, expostulation, or

entreaty. At length he would start up and
p 2