Page 300 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XVI.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 261

every day prepared at, and sent from his
house. On one occasion he invited me to

dine and pass the evening with him. I was
received in a small room, furnished with only

a rude table, two or three chairs, given him
by the commanders of our vessels, and some
carpets, on which, after I had declined the

honour of the chairs, we all seated ourselves.
Our dinner was, as usual, of the most frugal

description, and, after its removal, the
Sheikh’s brother roasted and pounded the
coffee, which the Sheikh himself made and

handed round. A story-teller was then called
in, whose tale, judging from the peals of

laughter he drew from his hearers, must have
possessed much entertainment; but I was
then too ignorant of the language to under­

stand it.