Page 336 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XIX.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 297

the Desert, and, although the spines on some
are sufficiently formidable to pierce a thick
shoe, the cartilaginous formation of their

mouth enables them to feed without diffi­
culty. The Bedowin also, when walking,

devotes a considerable portion of his time in
collecting and feeding his camel with the
succulent plants and herbs which cross his

path. These, on a journey, with a few hand­
fuls of dates or beans, form its ordinary food ;

but while encamped, he is fed on the green
stalk of the jowaree and the leaves and tender
*
,
branches of the tarfa heaped on circular
mats, and placed before the animal, who
kneels while he is partaking of them. In

Southern Arabia they are fed on salt, and
even fresh fish.

During a journey it is customary to halt
about four o’clock, remove the loads, and

permit the camels to graze around. If the
Arabs are desirous of preventing them from
straying too far, they tie their fore-legs toge­

ther, or bind the fetlock to the upper joint
by a cord. The head is never secured, ex­

cepting whilst travelling, when the Arabs
* Tamarix Orientalis.