Page 80 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

IV.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 41

siderable number of the crew of an English

ship lying there were seriously ill.

Off the Devil’s Gap, a remarkable gorge
or opening in the mountain range contiguous
to the sea-shore, we experienced a heavy

squall, during which I had a good oppor­

tunity of witnessing the timidity and irreso­
lution of Arab mariners. We shipped a good
deal of water, and were really at one time in

an awkward situation. The passage con­

tinued stormy, with occasional heavy showers
of rain, to Kilhat, abreast of which we an­

chored for a few hours, while I went on shore
to examine the ruins.

Kilhat is an ancient town, mentioned by
several of the Arabian authors. Its ruins

cover an extensive tract, but only one build­
ing remains in a state of tolerable preserva­

tion. This is a small mosque, which, judg­
ing from the writing on various parts of it,

has been frequented by Indian Mussulmans.
Its interior is covered with party-coloured

glazed tiles, on which are inscribed, in re­
lievo, sentences from the Koran. To the

northward of these ruins there is a small

fishing village, the inhabitants of which also