'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎515] (546/582)

INHABITANTS OF MUSCAT.
515
tection. Making a voyage to India, he remained long enough as
a fixed resident in Bombay to establish his domicile there; and, in
virtue of this, was considered to be a British subject, and permitted
as such to sail his vessels under the British flag. One of these,
the Sulimany, commanded by an English captain, touched at Mus
cat, on her way to Bussorah. Some slaves were put on board of
her against the English captain's remonstrances; and the agents
of the owner, who was himself at Bombay, seemed to think, that
though their principal was sufficiently an Englishman, by adoption
or domicile, to obtain a British flag for his vessels, yet that they
were sufficiently Arabs to be justified in conducting their own
business, even in these ships, as Arab merchants. The Sulimany
sailed for Bussorah, was examined and captured by his Majesty's
ship Favourite, the Hon. Captain Maude, in the Gulf, was sent to
Bombay, and there condemned in the Court of Admiralty, as a
lawful prize, for being found with slaves on board under English
colours, and accordingly condemned. The Abyssinian, finding his
interests shaken by this stroke in India, had returned to what he
considered his real home, and had brought all his family and do
mestics with him.—There were many genuine Abyssinians, and
others mixed with Arab blood in their descent, settled here as mer
chants of wealth and importance, and this returning Abyssinian was
received among them all with marks of universal respect and con
sideration. There are also found here a number of African ne
groes ; but these, from their inferiority of capacity and understand
ing to the Abyssinians, seldom or ever obtain their freedom, or
arrive at any distinction, but continue to perform the lowest
offices and the most laborious duties during all their lives.
These three classes are all Mohammedans, and of the Soonnee
sect. Their deportment is grave, and their manner taciturn and
serious ; but there is yet an air of cheerfulness, and a look of con
tent and good-nature mixed with what would be otherwise for
bidding by its coldness. Beards are universally worn ; but these
are by nature thin and scanty: they are generally preserved of
3 u 2