Page 143 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

104 TRAVELS IN OMAN.

CHAPTER VIII.

Mountain Scenery—Sagacity of the Camel—Climate of Oman—
A Thief—Gum Arabic—Attachment to the Camel, laughable
Anecdote—Lieutenant Whit elock—Breakfast with the Sheikh
of Semmed—Interior of his Fortress—Hospitality—Gravity of
Bedowin youth—Anecdote—Sheikh Nassen—Bedowin robbers
—Anecdote—Minna—Beautiful Scenery — Honesty of the
women—Neswah—Sheikh—Visit to the Fort—Trade—Dress
and habits of the Natives,

At 130, from an elevated ridge, I caught a

glimpse of the mountains over Stir, bearing
E. by % S. Our course here has been W. by

S., and from hence it was N.W. Small hills
of limestone formation, of a pyramidal form

and rugged outline, their blackened surface
exhibiting no traces of bushes or desert shrubs,

extend on either hand. The intermediate

valleys and plains are sprinkled with grassy
knolls, and towards sunset we again entered

a woody tract. Shortly after dark we lost the
path : the camels, immediately this falls out,

discover it instinctively, and then seem to be