Page 280 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XV.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 241

could have been exhibited by the veriest
savage of New Holland. They are mostly

very poor, wearing no other covering than a
narrow cloth round their waist, which barely

serves the purposes of decency. Their habi­
tations are often small circular huts, con­
structed of loose stones, about four feet high,

and usually erected on the strip of sea-beach
already mentioned. Other dwellings are

found within the space sheltered by some
impending rock, the sides and front of which
are built up in those spots which require it,

but the greater number reside in caves and
hollows. On one occasion when the survey­

ing vessel drifted close to the shore, and it
was feared she would ground, the hills,
which, but a few minutes before, were with­

out a solitary individual, instantly became
covered with armed men, who had crawled

forth from their caves to share in the expected
plunder.
Their principal food is dates and salt fish,

rice being nearly unknown to them, but they
obtain, occasionally, a small supply of barley

and wheat. It has been asserted that this
people are of a fairer complexion, and speak

vol. I. R