Page 296 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XVI.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 257

was subsequently erected. The Johasmis
very soon after its promulgation embraced
the tenets of the Wahhabis, with whom

they were always in strict alliance, and to this
cause we are to attribute the bitter hatred of

the Princes of Oman. Their present chief is
considered to be wily and politic. In their
peculiar mode of warfare he possesses great

abilities, but is otherwise deficient in that
boldness and frankness which characterises

the Arab. His capital, Ras el Khaimah, was
wholly dismantled in 1819, but is now rebuilt,

and, perhaps, of greater magnitude, and more
populous than before. If our ships, there­

fore, were not kept in constant communica­
tion with him, there is little doubt, both from
his ability and disposition, that he would oc­

casion us some trouble.
The tribe next in importance to the Jo-

hasmi is that of Beni As. Its late Sheikh,
Tanun, was an enterprising character, who
possessed considerable power, and maintained

a regular force of four hundred men, very well
armed and equipped. Small as this number

may appear, it was sufficient to give him con­
siderable influence over his rivals, although
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