'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎116] (225/496)

plentiful, and a little wheat and barley is also grown ; while the hills on
either side are completely covered with the vine. About noon set out
for another valley, (Waddy Seek,) distant about four miles. This valley i s
much larger than bin Abeeb, and not at all precipitous, the approach to it
on either side being by a gentle descent. The same fruit trees abound
here as at the former valley, with the addition of the mulberry, which is
very much prized by the natives. This was the limit of my excursion,
as only five days remained to the expiration of my leave. At 10 a. m.,
therefore, on the 7th of December, commenced retracing my steps, and
by 8 p. M. was once more partaking of the hospitality of the Sheik of
Tenoof. I found the descent far more fatiguing than the ascent, and
had I not been barefooted, (my shoes having been cut to pieces during
my short stay in the mountains,) I would never have ventured on riding,
for one false step would have been destruction to both rider and donkey.
12. The Green Mountains of Oman are merely a small part of the great
range that traverse throughout this part of Arabia. The whole of the cul
tivated valleys might easily be seen in a couple of days, and their ap
pearance is very tame, the hills being quite bare, and no trees of any size
to be seen, with the exception of the walnut, which is cultivated with the
other fruit trees in the valley. I was received everywhere with the great
est kindness, and here again frequent enquiries were made after Lieut.
W.ellstead. The inhabitants of these valleys indulge in wine of their
own making; it is like the common black wine of Europe, only much
inferior. Their excuse for doing so is on account of, as they consider it,
the excessive cold of the mountains. I found it rather cold in the morn
ings about daybreak, but I do not think the thermometer could ever
have been lower than seventy during the three nights of my stay here.
I saw but few cattle, and altogether the natives appear to be exceedingly
poor. Such a thing as coffee was not to be procured. At noon on the
8 th of December, accompanied by two horsemen supplied by the Sheik
as an escort, started on my return to Xus wee. At the moment of leaA ing
the town a large party arrived, one of whom was the Sheik of a district
about twenty miles distant: he pressed me very much to remain and ac
company him home, and nothing would have afforded me greater pleasure,
had I had time to do so, but as my leave expired on the 11th, I was obliged
to decline. On nearing Xuswee my escort took leave, the Sheik
Tenoof being at variance with the Governor of that place. My
were delighted to see me return on the day specified, as they were an
xious to reach Meskat, for which place I desired them to be read)
start the next morning. Accordingly, at 8.15 a. m., accompanied by the