Page 108 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

VI.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 69

sheep, boiled whole, and large bowls of rice,
had, in the mean time, been preparing. Di­

rectly it was brought in the ladies retired,

leaving Sooltan and myself alone to partake of
it. Upon my return to the tent I found there

the whole of the tribe, at Beni-Abu-’Alf,
consisting of about two hundred and fifty

men, assembled for the purpose of exhibiting
their war dance. They had formed a circle,

within which five or six of their number now
entered. After walking leisurely round for

some time, each challenged one of the spec­
tators by striking him gently with the flat
of his sword. His adversary immediately

leaped forth, and a feigned combat ensued.

They have but two cuts, one directly down­
wards at the head, and the other horizontally

across the legs. They parry neither with the
sword nor shield, but avoid the blows by

leaping or bounding backwards. The blade
of their sword is three feet in length, straight,

thin, double-edged, and as sharp as a razor.
As they carry it upright before them, by a

peculiar motion of their wrist they cause it to
vibrate in a very remarkable manner, which

has a singularly striking effect when they are