Page 46 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)
P. 46

l.J TRAVELS IN OMAN. 7


            on all occasions, without pomp or ostentation.
            It is noticed by the Arabs, as an instance of

            the warmth of his affections, that he daily
            visits his mother, who is still alive, and pays,

            in all matters, implicit obedience to her wishes.
            In his intercourse with Europeans, he has

            ever displayed the warmest attention and

            kindness; probably, if any native prince can
            with truth be called a friend to the English,
            it is the Imim of Maskat; and even'on our

            side, the political connexion with him ap­

            pears to have in it more sincerity than is ge­
            nerally supposed to exist.
               The government of this prince is princi­

            pally marked by the absence of all oppres­

            sive imposts, all arbitrary punishments, by
            his affording marked attention to the mer­
            chants of any nation who come to reside at

            Maskat, and by the general toleration which

            is extended to all persuasions: while, on the
            other hand, his probity, the impartiality and
            leniency of his punishments, together with

            the strict regard he pays to the general wel­

            fare of his subjects, have rendered him as
            much respected and admired by the town
            Arabs, as his liberality and personal courage
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