Page 104 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

V.] TRAVELS IN OMaN. 65

as well as purity of the atmosphere, to men­

tion that the bodies of those slain on the first
attack were found lying upon the sands un­

touched by worms, and showing not the
slightest symptoms of decay.

The Bedowins evinced no disinclination to
converse on the subject of the war, and their

own defeat and losses they spoke of in the
most perfect good humour. They were

equally merry in their observations on the
English during their stay in Jailan: their

mode of attack, the arms and accoutrements
of the soldiers, &c., being severally criticised

with much shrewdness. To an Arab, who
goes to war with no greater burden than his

camel can well approach or retreat with,
seldom, indeed, carrying anything beyond

his arms, a small bag of moistened flour, and
a skin of water, the quantity of baggage

which accompanied our troops must have
been not a little surprising; but what ex­

cited their utmost astonishment was, that we
should carry casks of liquor for the men.

This circumstance was afterwards frequently
mentioned in Om&n.

VOL. I. F