'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎105] (214/496)

elapsed, the war will be renewed as before ; but our time being limited,
we could not accept the invitation, his territory being three days' journey
distant.
A slight incident occurred during the first day of our visit, which will
serve in some measure to display the curiosity of the Arabs. We had signi
fied our wish to enjoy the luxury of a bath after our journey, and were
conducted to a small stream outside the town. Such was the curiosity of
the people that they crowded the walls overlooking the stream, to such
an extent, that, on our leaving the water to dress, one of the mud banks
more laden than the rest, unable to sustain the weight imposed on it, gave
way, and the fragments, together with a fat Arab, rolling in the direction
where we were standing, completely buried our clothes, and we only es
caped the same fate by jumping again into the stream. The natives ap
peared much concerned at our misfortune, and immediately assisted in
removing the mud and stones, and recovering our effects.
After staying with the Beni-boo-Hassan tribe two days, we left to
pay a visit to the Beni-boo-Ali tribe, from whom an invitation had been
sent the day previous. We were accompanied by the Sheik, and four of
his tribe, on horseback, as far as the boundary of his territory, which is
indicated by a mud fort erected close to the road or camel-track: at this
part a quantity of wells were being dug. The road for some distance
lay, before reaching the Beni-boo-Ali territory, through thick date groves
interspersed with streams of delightfully clear water, and neatly fenced
in. The distance between the two towns does not exceed six or seven
miles.
This town presented a very different appearance to that we had just
left, the houses being more scattered, and many, which had originally
been much superior to the present ones, partially knocked down, which
they informed us had been dismantled by the British troops in 1821.
The Ameer, Mahomed bin Ali, received us very cordially, and, on en
tering his house, or rather mud hut, which was very imperfectly covered
with mats, entertained us with coffee, &c. He is a man of very venerable
appearance, about 70 years of age, and appears to be very much respected
by his people. He showed us the letter he had received from the Bom
bay Government, by the Palinurus, and w r as apparently much surpris
ed when we told him we had not brought any other for him, and were on
no political mission whatever.
There is a mud wall being built round the town, but they are not at
present proceeding with it. We were shewm the ground (which is just