Page 90 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

IV.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 51

well cultivated, and some streams of running

water which cross their grounds afford abun­
dant means of irrigation. The inhabitants

evinced so much dislike at my looking over
these fields, that I was obliged to quit them.

At 1130 we continued our route over an
extensive plain, where the soil was alter­

nately either of a very loose drift sand, or
a whitish indurated clay, covered with sayel

bushes (male acacia). Parties of Bedowins,
on their way to Sur, occasionally passed

us, but, as the principal tribes were now
at feud, a single individual was rarely met
with beyond the precincts of the villages,

nor was it without some precaution that our

own party proceeded. Immediately that an­
other caffilla was perceived our camels were
brought together, the guards, as we ap­

proached nearer, advanced a-head, mutual
inquiries ensued, and we then passed on.

Any authority which Sayyid S’aid has ac­
quired over this district, by the liberal distri­

bution of presents to its Sheikhs, is more
nominal than real. The Bedowins follow up

their own quarrels, plundering, and not un-
frequently killing each other, with the same

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