Page 268 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XV.J TRAVELS IN OMAN. 229

well. I found, that having received intelli­
gence of the forward movement of the Wah­
habis, he had sent a messenger to recall us,
but who missed, and passed us on the road.

The Sheikh gave me no encouragement to
persevere in my attempt, to reach Bireimah.

“ However,” said he, “ if you are desirous
of trying the only remaining chance, I will
furnish a good boat to convey you to Sehinas,
and instruct the Sheikh there to forward you

on, with a guard, to Bireimah.”
On the 22nd we therefore embarked for

that port, and reached it on the afternoon of
the 25th. The coast between these two
points presents such a number of towns and
villages (all of which will be seen on the

map), that I question if it is not among the
most populous in the world. The principal,
and by far the largest of these is Sohar.

In point of commercial importance, Sohar
ranks next to Maskat. It has about forty
large bagalAs belonging to it, and maintains

a considerable trade with Persia on the one
hand, and India on the other. The number
of inhabitants is estimated at nine thousand ;

but some of these, residing in contiguous