Page 266 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XV.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 227

CHAPTER XV.

Advice to travellers—Honesty of the Bedowins —Seyyid Hilal—
Advises the Author to abandon his enterprise — Sohar — Its
commercial importance — Population — Trade — Ahmed ibn
Aisan—Defeated by the Wahhabis—His character—Revenue
—Harbours of Oman—Asses — Sehinas—Villages—Date
Groves — Dibah — Description of the Country—Bire'imah—
Water—Milk Bush— Goats—Inhabitants,

In a country where the natives are disposed
to be hostile, a traveller, if he can possibly
avoid it, will do well not to return by his

former road. In the first instance he will
most probably have passed before they re­
cover from the effects of their surprise, but

afterwards he naturally becomes the subject
of much conversation and inquiry, and on
his return, if disposed for mischief, they look

out for him. The events of to-day and yes­
terday, in addition to many others which oc-
q 2