Page 400 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

TRAVELS IN OMAN. 361

tribe. With an authority so limited, I was in
a particular degree impressed with the extra­
ordinary care and affection which is generally

testified by the tribes of Oman towards their
persons. There is, in this respect, a marked

difference between these Bedowins and the
natives of the sea-coast of Oman and Ha-

dramaut.
A few years ago two vessels richly laden
were cast on shore to the east of Roselhad,

within the limits of the Beni-Abu-’Ali Be­
dowins, who with the neighbouring tribe, the

Beni Geneba, immediately plundered them.
None of the crew were injured. There was a

Jew on board who was sick. When he was
carried to the shore, a Bedowin took charge
of him, and upon his promising to pay a cer­

tain number of dollars, engaged to convey
him to Maskat. Fearing, however, as he was

very sick, that he might die on the road, and
that he would then not only lose his reward,
but perhaps also get into trouble, the Bedowin

stipulated for a written engagement. As the
Jew could not write, he dipped his fingers

in ink, and left them impressed on the paper.
Upon this the British Resident proceeded to