Page 73 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

34 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

freely, as I rode at their side, of their country
and its inhabitants. Now, and for some time

afterwards, I found it difficult, without the
aid of an interpreter, to maintain a conversa­

tion with the Omany Bedowins. The dialect
which had served me in my communication

with the tribes along the shores of the Red

Sea was understood but very partially here.
I am convinced, however, this could only
occur to a person who had but a superficial

knowledge of the language: one completely

versed in it would find little difficulty in
making himself understood in any part of the

country.
After sunset we continued, occasionally,

to pass groups of Bedowins, who had with­
drawn some short distance from the road,

and were seated with their camels round a
fire. It seems customary on these occasions

for neither party to proffer a salutation,
which is contrary to the practice when they

meet in the day, for then they exchange
several sentences. About an hour before

midnight, the loud and deep barking of some
shepherd dogs denoted our approach to a vil­

lage, which we entered a few minutes after­