Page 256 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XIV.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 217

the village of Ayal at 1-30 without meeting
with a single individual. Our route ran
along a broad valley, on either side of which

the hills run in a table-topped range, with
sloping sides, or are broken into detached

chains, presenting isolated pyramidal hills,
somewhat truncated at the upper part, but of
the same uniform level and direction as the

continuous ridges. Quitting Aya], where we
obtained a second guard, we entered another

broad valley, in the centre of which there
ran a narrow rivulet, and at 5‘30 put up for
the night at the small village of Arudh.

March \2th. At ten hours our guard, who
had passed the night right joyously within

the walls of the village, being collected, we
left, and crossed a succession of sandy, bar­
ren plains, similar to those of yesterday.

Not a breath of wind was stirring, and as we
occasionally passed through the narrow val­

leys which intersected our path, the concen­
tration of the solar heat within them was
almost overpowering.

At 12-50 we passed the extensive grove
and town of Derese, with the people of which

our party were at feud, and, in consequence,