Page 140 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

VII.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 101

would be capable of holding out for a long

time. Ibrah is justly renowned for the beauty
and fairness of its females. Those we met in

the streets evinced but little shyness, and on
my return to the tent I found it filled with

them. They were in high glee at all they saw ;
every box I had was turned over for their in­

spection, and whenever I attempted to remon­
strate against their proceedings, they stopped

my mouth with their hands. With such dam­
sels there was nothing left but to laugh and

look on. Saaf, a sober, staid personage, seated
himself in a corner, where he remained silent,

and, to appearance, perfectly horrified at
the passing scene. On one occasion, how­

ever, their mischievous pranks got the better
of his philosophy, and arming himself with a

horsewhip, he would have dispersed the party
by no very gentle means if I had not pre­

vented him. Towards evening these good
dames took their departure, and their place

was filled with far less entertaining visitors—
some senseless and bigoted old Moolahs, and

a few rude and troublesome young men. I
got rid of the former, who had come for the

purpose of disputation, by subscribing to all