'File 35/64 III Minerals in Oman. Madrasai geologists' researches' [‎52v] (113/276)

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leaching "Dhe skirt, of t-he hills we ent.erecL the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. . cXarziz
from the bed of which a broad stream flows out on to the plain
during the monsoon. On the present occasion however,,, we pro
ceeded up the valley for two miles, to a height of 600 feet
before coming across water, and then found a small la^e or pond
about 5:0. feet in circumference, the origin of which is a spring
gushing out of the rock a quarter of a mile further up and con
nected with it- by a small riv^rlet. Here the. Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. ends in a
cul de sac, there are high rocky cliffs on the three sides with
deep and broad caves, apparently natural; and some signs of
the verdure which is no (Joubt to be found there during the rains.
At present the effect is a curious mixture of sandy and rocky
desert land and tropical vegetation.
At this point we encountered a party of A1 Kathir bedouins of
the Ali bin Bidar section watering their cattle and goats►
These people professed never to have seen a European and shewed
much curiosity in regard to our food, clothes, etc. They were
decidedly friendly and communicative asking and answering
questions with great readiness. Their language, known as
Kurai or Ehihri, is that peculiar to this region; it contains
some Arabic words and expressions, but is quite distinct from
the patois spoken by the bedouins of Oman and requires further
elucidation. A few of them have guns and daggers, but the
maiority are armed with a small round metal or wooden shield
foot in diameter (which is hollow and used also for a head
dress and to carry water), a stick made of some heavy wood
resembling teak pointed at both ends, and a long straight sword.
The stick is used as an assegai though not thrown in the same
way, it turns over once in the air; and the sword and shield
are for employment subsequently. Thetmode of salutation in
vogue among these people is not the hand shake now common among
Arabs, but the old fashioned kiss, twice on the left and onae
on the right cheek. Their dress is cloth all of one colour
for both sexes, a dark indigo blue; and the women, although
not veiled in the ordinary way wear a sort of cowl of the same
material.
{
), or according to local pronounciation Garziz,