Page 421 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

382 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

lowers, who would readily join for the sake of

the share in the plunder, and the occasional
presents which they obtain from him.

In conclusion, I cannot but notice that, in
some of its prominent features, a considerable

resemblance may be traced between the pre­
sent government of Oman and that of the old
feudal states in Europe. We have there, in

the person of the Imam, the representative of
the regal power: the chiefs, on whom he has

bestowed governments, as a reward for fight­
ing under his banner when called upon, re­
semble the feudal barons ; while the people,

released from all taxes, hold possession of the

soil by the same tenure as the ancient vassal,
viz., that of military service. A castle or
tower is attached to each of these govern­

ments ; and, whenever the authority of the
Imam has not been well supported, the chiefs

who held possession of them, like the barons,
have called around them their retainers, and
bid him open defiance.

Owing to the wandering habits of the Be-
dowins, it is very difficult to fix with precision

the amount of the population of this province,
but, during my stay there, I took considerable