Page 277 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

258 COAST OF ARABIA. [CH.

breezes from the northward, their lints are

generally erected behind some hillock, or
amidst trees, having also the convenience of
pasturage in their vicinity. Their weapons
consist of a spear about eight feet in length,
pointed at both ends; a jambir, or large
crooked dagger of a semicircular shape, with
a broad blade; a matchlock gun, having a
barrel of extraordinary length; and some­
times a long sharp double-edged sword. Few,
excepting their Sheikhs, appear to possess
pistols.

On the Arabian and Nubian coast we
found a race of fishermen, which bear the
general designation of Huteimi, and from the
similarity of their present habits, are, I have
little doubt, a remnant of the Ichthyophagi,
described so minutely by Diodorus Siculus.
They are found in various parts of the
Hej&z, and have some large encampments
near Leyt to the southward of Jiddah. Those
we met with were constantly traversing the
sea-shore in small parties to obtain a pre-

carious and scanty meal of fish, which the
more wretched pick up amidst the rocks or
on the beach, while those who are wealthier,