Page 428 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XXIV.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 389

the Zanzibar coast, who are known by having
their teeth filed, sometimes to a point, and

sometimes in notches like those of a saw.

They have also some perpendicular incisions
on either cheek, made with a penknife when
the children are five or six years of age.

The scars which remain denote the tribe to

*
.
which they belong The price of a Towali is
from forty to sixty dollars. The Nabi, who
come from the interior of Africa, are said to

be vindictive and treacherous. The Bedow-

ins, here as in the Hejaz, are the only pur­
chasers. The Gallas, brought from Abys­
sinia, are highly valued; they fetch from one

hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars; the
price of the females being about the same as

that of the males, and strength, health, and
good temper in the latter, are considered as a

set-off against the comeliness of the former.
They bring eunuchs occasionally from Dar­

fur, which fetch from two to three hundred
dollars, and are mostly purchased by the

Persians. It is some alleviation to learn, at
the same time that we are made aware of the

* Some remarks on this practice may be found in Mr. R.
Lander’s Travels.