Page 346 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XIX.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. .307

sionally think it derogatory to ride on the
latter, all other classes are less fastidious.
They are large, well made, and endure great

fatigue. The Arabs take considerable care
of them; and some of the better kind fetch

from forty to fifty dollars. Those which tra­
verse the Jebel Akhdar, in point of size,
sturdiness, and sureness of step, are almost

equal to mules crossing the most difficult
passes, over a smooth limestone rock, without
a single false step. A great many asses are

shipped from Oman to the eastern ports of
Persia, and also to the Isle of France, where

.
they are highly valued *
Buffaloes are unknown; oxen are not nu­

merous, and they all have the hump which is
supposed to be a distinguishing mark of the
African species. Their value for agricultural

and other labours is too considerable to allow
of their being killed for food, excepting at

the large towns. They are principally used
for drawing water, for ploughing, and for
treading out the grain. On the sea-coast,

where there is a great scarcity of fodder,

* There are no vehicles of any description either carried or drawn
in Om&n, nor, as far as I have seen, in any other part of Arabia.
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