Page 251 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

212 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

retire, breathing maledictions against their
unheard-of rapacity, but followed by one or

two of the by-standers who bring him back,
when a repetition of the same scenes occurs,

until the affair is settled. I must again
repeat that no human being, save an Arab,
could endure the trial to which his patience

is subjected whilst adjusting these inter­
minable bargains. Even when the affair, to

all appearance, has been settled, something
still remains to furnish a plea for new exac­
tions ; a further supply of dates for them­

selves, or fodder for their cattle, I found to
be the favourite plea. Very often in the

course of this journey I have been delayed
for hours, rather than yield up a quarter of a
dollar more than Ali informed me was the cus­

tomary demand. When in Jailan I had tried
at first a contrary plan ; but got tired of giving

long before they were of asking; indeed, the
experience of a few days convinced me that
any concession was, in proportion to the

amount conceded, made the plea for further
exactions. In general, professed carriers,

among the Bedowins, are a cheating, lying,
avaricious race ; yet have they good qualities,