Page 219 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

180 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [ch.

CHAPTER XII.

How to avoid being plundered—Bedowin Fort—Intense cold—
Crossing Torrents — Rapid Vegetation—Burka—Population,
Trade, Revenue, fyc.—Arab Law-suits—The Bazar—Fishery—
Mesndh—Interview with the Sheikh—Dissimulation—Dates—
Distillation of Arrack—Superb Shells—Suweik—The Sheikh's
Wife—Seyyid Hilal—Personal Appearance and Generosity—
Energy and Influence of Arab Females.

February 25th. At 2’10 we left our encamp­

ment. Our life here had been so dull and

monotonous, that none of the party were
sorry to quit it. In order to hold out as little
temptation as possible for plunder to the wild

tribes with which we were about to mix, we
had reduced our baggage to a single trunk

and the inner part of the tent: so that the
number of camels was reduced to five, the

same number as the party.
After leaving the skirts of the village, we

continued, until 4-30, to pass a succession of