Page 327 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

290 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

principally in the Jebel Akhdar, one of a
■white, and the other of a dark-purple colour;

the former are used for wine, and from the
latter they make raisins. Plantains also, of

various sorts. Water melons, and pumpkins,
all plentiful and good in their several kinds.

Almonds, walnuts, figs, several varieties ; the
best, called Tim (Ficus carica, Linn.), are

sweet and pleasant, but smaller, and inferior
in richness and flavour to those of Turkey.
The natives dry and string them on lines.

Nebek, the fruit of the Lotus nebca. Dates.
These form the principal, and often, par­

ticularly in travelling, the only food of the
natives. Oman produces vast quantities. I

have already noticed the extensive groves on
the Batna coast. The best kind here are

considered scarcely inferior to those of Bas­
rah and Bahrein, esteemed the best in
Arabia. The natives are very fond of the

seed of the male palm; it has a slight odo­
riferous smell, but its taste, I thought, could

only be relished from habit. White and jow-
aree grain (Holcus sorghum'), wheat, and bar­

ley, are grown, but little rice. The vegetables
are onions, lentils, radishes, carrots, brin-