Page 166 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

IX.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 127

but fearing they might not relish our walking
about with our shoes on, and it being rather

too cool to go without them, I procured an­
other house. Here I was soon joined by the

Sheikh, who came with several others to dis­
suade me from my intention of visiting the

mountains. Most frightful pictures were

drawn of the passes ; and I believe they
thought that we, like many of their worthy
countrymen, who pass their lives on the plains,

had never visited a mountain district. The

natives were also described as being little
better than savages, and especially hostile to

the visits of strangers ; but finding all their
arguments ineffectual in changing our in­

tention, they took their departure, evidently
somewhat disappointed.

Tanfif has two small forts, which serve to
command the entrance of the valley; in other

respects it is an insignificant hamlet, sur­
rounded by considerable cultivation.

Saturday, December 26th. In the early part
of the day, every obstacle on the part of the

Sheikh and the inhabitants was thrown in the
way of our proceeding, and matters were at

length only settled by my threatening to ride