Page 119 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

80 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

the infuriate monster is said to dash at once
at him. Many accidents, I learn, arise in

this manner, but if they succeed in getting
him quickly alongside they soon despatch

him by a few blows on the snout. After the
fish is brought to the shore it is either dried

or salted, and that portion not required for
their own consumption, is conveyed into the

interior and exchanged for dates and cloth.
In the cool season the pastoral Arabs of this

tribe reside, for the sake of more plentiful
herbage, at or near the sea-coast, living, as

those I have already noticed, in small tents,
constructed with poles, and covered with

skins; but, upon the approach of the south­
west monsoon, they retreat to the hills, and

become regular Troglodytes. They then oc­
cupy, with their flocks, the most secluded

valleys, where the pasturage is usually better
than on the plains. The whole of this tribe

are in bad repute with their neighbours,
and it is said that they make no scruple of

plundering boats which may be unfortu­
nate enough to fall into their clutches. It

was the Beni Geneba that approached the
American sloop Peacock, when aground near