'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎112] (221/496)

The A1 Wahabies are a powerful tribe, nearly as numerous as the J U -
nelie, numbering about one thousand warriors, most of whom are armed
with the matchlock. Their principal wealth consists in camels, possessing
more than any other tribe in Oman with the exception of the El Awak-
man, the most powerful tribe in this part of the country, and who entirely
live in the desert, subsisting on their flocks of goats, as they do not pos
sess one single date grove. On the 30th of November, being the third
day of my stay with theAl Wahabies, resumed my journey, and after three
or four hours travel reached the tow T n of Senow in company with Kha
li feen bin Ali, who was about paying a visit to Meskat, where he
repairs twdce a year to receive “ Buksheesh” from the Emaum.
“ Senow,” a small town belonging to theAl Wahabies, and distant about
nine miles from the residence of the Sheik, is situated on a hill with
date groves stretching beneath. The houses, tw'O stories high, and built of
mud, are tolerably respectable; and the inhabitants number from three to
four hundred. A little before midnight set out from Senov r , still in company
with Khalifeen bin Ali, and continued at a quick trot till 1.30 a. m.,
when w r e encamped in a small valley sheltered by the acacia, having
travelled about eleven miles. Next morning I was surprised to find the
valley completely crow T ded with men and camels, upwards of a hundred
men having assembled during the night to follow the Sheik to Meskat, as
none on such an occasion come away empty-handed. I w r as greatly pleased
with the scene thus presented, as, from the morning being chilly, fires
w^ere kindled in every direction, surrounded by different parties, who, as
the sun rose, approached our fire to salute their Chief. So great a number,
however, was anything but pleasing to that personage, who only desired
some twenty followers to accompany him ; I was therefore not at all sur-
piised, on ai riving at Meskat, to hear that he had returned to his own
countiy on the plea of being unwell, this being the only means of ridding
himself of the incumbrance, for had he expressed any open disapproba
tion, a quarrel in ail probability would have ensued as to who should be
the lucky individuals to form the escort. The hint, I was informed by
some ofth. tiibe, will have the desired effect, and after a few days dela)
the Sheik will be enabled to resume his journey with whatever number
of attendants he may please to take. At 9 a. m. Khalifeen and the
v nolo party resumed their journey, when we parted company, as his rate
tia\ tiling was by far too rapid and fatiguing for me. They have to
ma e a wide circuit, in consequence of being at war w r ith the people who
-T ^ ie ^ iec ^ route, which is no more than eighty miles, whereas
e Al M ahabies will have to traverse at least twice that distance.
em & \en stiff from last night’s journey, my progress to-day was very