'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎113] (222/496)

113
slow. Passed several small date groves, but all so very poor that we
could not procure a little grass for our camels i two of them were entirely
destroyed, the trees being all dead from the spring in their vicinity having
dried up. At 4-30 P. M. reached ^Minnik,” where I was kindly receiv
ed by the Governor of the place, who immediately conducted me to a
house, the same that Lieutenant Wellstead occupied during his stay here.
The distance travelled from the encampment of last night was about six
teen miles: the first part of the road had a range of hills on either side,
and the latter environed by detached hills. 66 Minnik” is a walled town
with narrow streets. The houses, two stories high, are built of mud and
stone. The population is from four to five hundred : in Wellstead’s time,
(of whom particular enquiries were made) it exceeded double that number.
This place has suffered more than any hitherto seen from the want of
rain; no less than seven out of the eight springs with which the town was
supplied are now quite dry, and, in consequence, large tracts of once cul
tivated land in the vicinity now lay perfectly waste, and whole date
groves are entirely destroyed. The only flourishing plantation at pre
sent is to the N. and Ed. of the town : it is walled in, and formed into
regular roads, the largest leading from the KT. Eastern gate, being about
five or six hundred yards in leng'th. Here I saw a little sugar-cane grow
ing . at one time great quantities were produced, for the manufacture
of sugar, which they clarified with eggs.
9. On the second day of December, a little after noon, set out for “ ISTus-
wee, distant six or seven miles, the surrounding country being very
hiHy: passed several date plantations, many of them ruined and deserted.
At 3-30 p. m. reached the town, and proceeded direct to the fort, where
I found the Governor and several of the principal inhabitants, dressed
quite gaily, making my appearance, which was anything but clean,
still more conspicuous. I was received very kindly by the Governor, Seafe
bin Ahmar, an old gentleman with a very pleasing appearance; and an
apartment just outside the fort, where he resided, was immediately pre-
paied for my accommodation. Shortly after my arrival a large party, all
armed, and preceded by drums and horns creating a most discordant noise,
approached the fort, when those jnesent with the Governor joined them,
and invited me to do the same. The whole party then formed into pro
cession, the drums and horns leading the way, headed by a man who was
continually crying out u a cheer for the Imaum, a cheer for his son, a cheer
or the Englishman.” This was responded to by the whole multitude yel-
mg with all their might, until arriving at the grand square, when a
circle was formed, and sham fights with the spear, sword, and matchlock,