Page 86 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

IV.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 47

meal of dates and milk. A huge rock, stand­
ing upright on the plain, sheltered them from

the wind, which blew with much strength
and keenness. In this group, beyond a

somewhat fairer complexion and taller sta­
ture, I saw little to distinguish them from

their neighbours of the plains. When we
had finished our repast, our new acquaint­

ances insisted on my visiting their huts. I
found them situated in a small dell, near a

stream of running water. They were of a
circular form, the walls of loose stones, and

the roofs neatly thatched with a description
of reed which grows here in great abundance,

but the interior exhibited neither space nor

comfort. I had scarcely seated myself on a
skin, spread on the ground in one of these
dwellings, when some young and very pretty

females entered, bringing with them a huge

bowl of milk. Out of compliment to them I
took a long draught; but no, this was insuf­
ficient. Was it bad?—try again, and again!

In vain I extolled it to the skies ; I was not

permitted to desist until I had swelled almost
to suffocation, and sworn by the beard of the

Prophet that I could and would take no