Page 156 - Arabiab Studies (IV)

146 Arabian Studies IV
years. He saw 200 fine horses which were fed on lucerne and
dates. Muttrah has 8,000 inhabitants including Baluch who
have their own walled quarter guarded by a sentry. Details
arc given of prices, coinage, etc., but repeat other sources.
1835 BRUCKS, Capt. George, ‘Memoir descriptive of navigation
of the Gulf of Persia’, Bombay Selections, xxiv. The
population of Muscat town constantly fluctuates; sometimes
it is near 30,000 and at other 12,000. There are 2,000 Banyans,
some with great influence. The population of the country is
put at 800,000 and the total revenue at $600,000.
SAMUEL, Rev. Jacob, Journal of a Missionary Tour, Edin­
burgh, 1844, 32-41 and 274-7. He visited in April and
returned in December. He preached to 12 Jews assembled for
the Passover. There were about 350 Jewish families ‘in the
province of Bethanie’ (Batinah). Sayyid Said received him
courteously. Muscat is the only Muslim Government which
tolerates heathens (Banyans) and allows them to have their
own temples.
RUSCHENBERGER, Dr. W. S. W., Narrative of a Voyage
round the world, London, 1838, i, 77-158. Visited in October,
with Edmund Roberts, Special Agent of the U.S. Govern­
ment. He put the population at 20,000. From the sea only the
Sultan’s palace, ‘a plain building of three stories’ and the
Customs House are visible. There are two surviving
Portuguese churches, one a store-house and the other a
government office. It is very romantic at night with the
sentries calling to each other every half hour and the boatmen
singing. Received by Sayyid Said after a smart guard of 20
men had presented arms. His only ornament was a large ruby
ring and he held a sword in a black scabbard mounted with
gold. He discussed French politics and told them that the
Beduins fight with swords, burying themselves in the sand up
to the armpits to present a smaller target. Dinner was served
with knives and forks borrowed from the visitors in a room
decorated with pictures of naval battles. The Sayyid said that
he would eat with them if they wished but that this would be
unusual: he served a cold meal of two sheep stuffed with
dates, prunes and cajoo nuts. Children are taught only the
Quran, but the wealthy send their sons to India or a few go to
Persia to study medicine. In one house the writer saw the
works of Walter Scott and Fenimore Cooper. Capital punish­
ment for murder can be avoided by paying $1,000, and
litigation involving property is decided by four judges. The
material of the turban distinguishes the tribes, and only the
royal family may wear it above a certain height. Some women
were dressed in loose robes of yellow silk gauze, a jacket with
short sleeves, covered in spangles and with rings on their toes.
There are two or three cafes outside the walls with people