Page 376 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XX.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 337

revenge are, if possible, more strictly en­
forced. Their feuds most commonly originate
either in these or with the Sheikhs, who have

constantly some hereditary or personal quar­
rels with their neighbours. During their con­

tinuance, hostilities are conducted in the same
manner, and on the same principle of good
faith, as in the Desert. Such events do not

disturb the general tranquillity, and a traveller
passes through the districts of rival tribes

without fear of interruption. The agricultural
pursuits in which they engage are not con­

sidered disreputable, as in other parts of
Arabia, nor do they produce the usual effects

of abridging the invincible attachment to
freedom — witness the late defeat of the
Wahhabis, in a pitched battle by the inhabit­

ants of Bedi’ah, who could only assemble a
third of the force brought against them.

Within this favourable estimate I cannot,
however, include the inhabitants of the sea­
coast, especially the people of Maskat, whose

poltroonery has been so often displayed, that
with the other tribes a Maskatti and an ar­

rant coward are held to be nearly synonymous.
The Arabs who inhabit the oases and

vol. i. z