Page 92 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

IV.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 53

but a small portion of their time, they lead

an idle life, and are constantly engaged in
quarrels or disputes either amidst themselves

or their neighbours. In appearance they are
the wildest and most uncouth beings I have

hitherto met with : they go almost naked,
and their hair is worn long, reaching nearly

to the girdle.
After sunset I saw no one but the Sheikh,

who came alone for the purpose of dissuading
me from visiting the Beni-Abu-’Ali Bedowins,

whom he characterised as being disaffected
to Sayyid S’aid, hating the English, and, in a

word, “ perfect devils but, as I knew the

two tribes were at open variance, I evinced
less disposition to follow his advice than he
probably anticipated, and he took his leave,

in consequence, somewhat coolly.

In truth, I was not without apprehensions
as to the treatment I should receive from his
neighbours, but my reasons will be under­

stood when I state the circumstances which

brought the English into collision with them.