146 CIVIL HISTORY AND 



dagger or jambea. A blue checked cotton handker- 

 chief was wound round his head, the ends hanging 

 down, and bordered with red, green, and yellow. 

 His sword was of the Persian form, in a plain black 

 scabbard. The chief minister. Said Abdul Kaher 

 was as plainly dressed as his master. Neither of 

 them wore jewel or ornament of any kind. 



The palace is the most conspicuous edifice in the 

 town : it stands close by the sea, is three stories 

 high, and might be mistaken for a merchant's count- 

 ing-house and store-rooms. The hall of audience 

 is a veranda overhanging the water, under the ter- 

 race of which boats pull up to land visiters. The 

 floor was covered v/ith a common Persian carpet, 

 and the furniture consisted of a table and a few plain 

 chairs in the European fashion. A collation was 

 served of fruits, sweetmeats, and sherbets, set out 

 in cut crystal of the most elegant fabric. Though 

 naturally gentle, this prince is not deficient in energy 

 and decision when occasion requires. His courage 

 in battle was frequently signalized while co-operating 

 with the British forces ; particularly in the expedi- 

 tion with Sir John Malcolm against the Arab pirates 

 in the Gulf, where his assistance materially con- 

 tributed to their suppression. At the attack of one 

 of the towns, when the British were compelled to 

 retire, the imam observed at some distance a sergeant 

 alone, and surrounded by a detachment of the enemy. 

 Unsupported as he was, he did not hesitate a mo- 

 ment ; returning instantly, he dashed singly among 

 the rebels, and, after killing several of them, brought 

 off the man in safety. 



The revenues of the imam are derived from various 

 sources. Besides receiving a tenth of the produce 

 of the soil, he possesses considerable landed prop- 

 erty of his own, and rents extensive tracts of 

 country from the Persian government, including 

 valuable mines of sulphur. A more lucrative source 

 income is the duty of one-half pe^' cent on all 



