Page 383 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

344 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [ch.

pearance before the Imam in this state; but

the next day found him on his way to Zansi-
bar, and I am told the offence was not re­

peated. The more rigid Mussulmanns not
only hold it unlawful to taste wine, or to press

grapes for the making of it, but they also object
to the buying, selling, or even maintaining

themselves with the money arising from its
sale. On the Jebel Akhdar large quantities
of wine is made, of which the inhabitants at

their meals partake most freely and openly;
and at all the principal towns where sugar is

manufactured, they distil from its refuse an
indifferent rum, which in the country finds a

ready sale. Gaming, although equally for­
bidden by the Koran, chess, and some few

Persian games played with cards brought
from India, are what they usually indulge in.
Their other amusements are but few : they

have their professed story-tellers, who also
during their feasts amuse them with songs,

which they perform in a falsetto tone to the
utmost extent of their voices. Divination or

augury is practised in a variety of ways. I
have already mentioned the burning of blade­

bones, from which the practitioner pretends