Page 272 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XV.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 233

sideration for their acknowledging his au­
thority.
From Maskat to Sehinas the coast of

Oman is remarkably destitute of harbours,
the only shelter the whole line affords being-

some narrow salt water creeks, or khores, as
they are styled by the Arabs, which have only
a sufficient depth of water to admit vessels of

two feet draught. The inhabitants in conse­
quence possess few boats of larger size than

can be accommodated within them, or hauled
upon the beach, which, upon the appearance
of a north-wester, they most commonly do.

In the date season they follow the same plan
until they are freighted, and again launched

for the purpose of proceeding to their desti­
nation. But the communication with the
different ports seems more general by land

than by water. For this purpose asses and
camels are put in requisition ; more generally

the former. The price of a good ass is from
fifteen to thirty dollars : their pace is con­
siderably faster than that of a camel’s, the

latter being two miles and three quarters, and
the former three miles and a half an hour : it

is a short, quick trot, which they maintain