Page 97 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH-

But, either through mistake or treachery, the
latter were not at the rendezvous at the ap­

pointed time, and the former proceeded alone.
Having reached the General’s camp, they

hamstrung several of the horses, and com­
mitted other damages, besides cutting down

several men. They then effected their escape
without the loss of one of their own number.

When our force on their march had nearly
reached the fort, the Arabs met them on a

large plain. Their number did not exceed
eight hundred: many of their women had

now joined their ranks, and they rushed on
with the same impetuosity as before, but

were met at every point by the bayonet:
they, nevertheless, fought with amazing ob­

stinacy and courage, and did not give up the
contest until nearly the whole of them were

:
slain or desperately wounded * amidst the
latter was their She’ikh, who, with the few

survivors, was taken prisoner to Bombay.
After being confined there for almost two

years they were released; much attention was
then shown them, and they were sent back

* In March, 1821.—Asiatic Journal, xii. 364.