Page 322 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XVIII.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 285

spreading, beautiful trees, but the people of
Oman, like the natives of Hindostan, enter­
tain a belief that it is dangerous to sleep be­

neath them, especially at night.
In Oman I never met with either frankin­

cense or dragon’s-blood trees, although they
are very numerous on the hills in the neigh­
bouring province of Hydramaut. The Arabs

report that they are not found to the west­
ward of the Mahara district. On the borders

of the streams aloes are very numerous. In
the distribution of its leaves and its average

height, the plant which is called by the Arabs
succul is the same as the aloe spiccata, found

in Socotra, and on the coast of Arabia Felix ;
but it is of a sea-green, instead of a light­
brown colour; very succulent, and not so

deeply serrated. I have seen a variety
closely resembling this in India and Egypt,

but am not aware that botanists have classed
it. The natives collect a small quantity of
the juice, but being of a more acrid taste than

the better sort, it is not held in much esteem,
and none is in consequence exported. Cassia

lanceoletta, senna meaki (the sharp-pointed
senna of Forskal) is found growing in great