Page 83 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

44 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [di.

old guns, but both it and they are in a very

ruinous state.
The contiguous country is cultivated in

patches of considerable extent, and the date
groves are numerous and extensive. It is,

however, to commercial pursuits that the
people of Stir are principally devoted, pos­

sessing a good harbour. Belonging to the port
they have about three hundred bagalAs of

different sizes, which trade, during the fair
season, to and between the shores of India,

Africa, and the Arabian and Persian Gulfs.
Its own exports and imports are trifling, the

former being dates and salt fish, the latter

grain, cloth, &c.; but the profit derived from
the interchange of the various productions of
the quarters I have named, is sufficient to

support them in affluence during the adverse

period of the year. They acknowledge the
authority, but pay no tribute to Sayyid S’aid.

Stir is thought to be of great antiquity — it
is supposed to have been occupied by the

Syrians.
December 1st Early this morning I set

out, accompanied by a guide, to visit the
northern range of mountains. The road be­