Page 89 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

50 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

that renders it impassable for camels. About
two we arrived at the pass of Babel Rufsur,

where there is a small tower, and a piece of
artillery. These and similar other buildings

were erected by the Imam to check the in­
cursions of the Wahhabis: they have now,

however, been all permitted to fall to decay.
Some streams of fresh water, with an occa­

sional date grove, show themselves between
this and the termination of the valley, which

we reached at six, p.m. Hence we continued
over a plain country, until eleven, p.m., when

we halted near some hamlets, where the dogs
kept up such a furious barking, and were

withal so fierce, that my guides, although in
want of food, were afraid to attempt to pass

them. The night was clear and cold, and a
heavy dew was falling. The Bedowins slept

in a circle, and placed the baggage in the
centre.

Thursday, December 3rd. Near to where we
have encamped there are three walled vil­

lages, Homaidah, El Kamil, and El Wafee,
severally containing about two hundred

houses, and each having a small fort. Both
within and without the walls, the country is