Page 43 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

4- TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

Maskat at which port, after a pleasant pas­
* ,
sage, we arrived on the 21st of the same
month.

Shortly after our little bark had anchored
within the cove, I went on shore and waited

on the Im&m; but finding that he had a full
divan, I took the liberty of requesting a pri­

vate audience on the morrow, which was im­
mediately granted.

November 22nd. I found no one with his
Highness this morning but his son, and after

delivering my presents, a few words sufficed
to explain the objects of my proposed journey.

Prepared as I was by my previous knowledge
of Sayyid S’aid’s characteristic liberality to

meet with no unfavourable exception to these,
I was surprised out of all former conception

by the eagerness he displayed to further my
views. “ It is occasions like these,” he said,

“ which afford me real pleasure, since they
enable me, by meeting the wishes of your

government, to evince the strength of my at­
tachment to themand he added, in a tone

the sincerity of which there was no mistaking,

* Sometimes spelt “ Muscat ” by English writers, but more pro­
perly as above.