Page 67 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

28 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

and I will here introduce the scene which
presented itself when I stepped on board,

under an impression I should receive some
letters. Let the reader picture to himself a

huge misshapen vessel, of at least four hun­
dred tons, with a long projecting prow, and

an elevated and elaborately carved and orna­
mented stern, having but a single mast and

single sail, the latter spread on a yard one
hundred and fifty feet in length, and contain­

ing more canvass than the courses of the

largest first-rates in his Majesty’s navy. The
decks appear crowded with beings of every
hue, and from every clime. The Persian,

distinguished by his flowing and richly-co­

loured dress; the Arab, with his coarse
cloak of broad alternate stripes; the Beluche,

with his long hair and white garments; and
the Armenian, who affects a costume bearing

some resemblance to the unsightly garb of
the Franks, are mixed up with, and jostled

by African negroes, who have but a piece of
tattered cloth thrown around their waist.

The latter compose the greater part of the
crew, which may amount in number to one

hundred and fifty men. For their encou­