Page 267 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

228 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

curved previously, convince me of the pro­

priety of these remarks.
On our way to Obri we passed through
Inan without exciting more attention than a
gaze of astonishment; but the intelligence of

our return had preceded us, and, in conse­
quence, we were received at the entrance of,

and followed through the town, by a mob of
young men and children, who hooted and
pelted us through it. The Sheikh too, who
was formerly all civility, now would not suf­

fer us to proceed without a present, in addi­
tion to the one I had already given him for
his trouble; nor had I any other alternative,

much to my annoyance, than to submit. It is,
however, worthy of remark that, with the ex­
ception of the few articles at Obri, this was

the first and only time I have lost anything
by petty theft or open extortion in Oman.

On the afternoon of March 19th we again
reached Suweik, where Seyyid Hildl received
us with all his former kindness. He was

much amused, but no way surprised to hear
of our reception at Obri, and his only asto­
nishment appeared to be that we escaped so