172 CIVIL HISTORY AND 



barely enough to support them through the winter, 

 which they pass in a state of indolence and dissipa- 

 tion. They use the precaution of oiling the orifice of 

 their ears and placing a horn over the nose when they 

 dive, to prevent the water from entering by these 

 apertures ; but when they have been long engaged in 

 this service, their bodies are subject to break out in 

 sores, their eyes become bloodshot and weak, and all 

 their faculties seem to undergo a premature decay.* 



The coast from Cape Mussendom to Bahrein has 

 been, from time immemorial, occupied by a pirati- 

 cal tribe of Arabs called Joassamees, already al- 

 luded to. Their local position necessarily engaged 

 them in maritime pursuits, either as traders in their 

 own vessels, or as pilots and sailors hired to navi- 

 gate the small craft of the Gulf. From their supe- 

 rior skill and industry, and fidelity to their engage- 

 ments, they maintained a high reputation, until 

 subdued by the arms of the Wahabees after a resist- 

 ance of three years. Their principal town, Ras el 

 Khyma, with all its dependencies along the coast, 

 submitted to the yoke, and embraced the new doc- 

 trines of the conquerors. 



This revolution wrought a total change, not only 

 in the faith but in the character and habits of these 

 refractory tribes. Instead of living quietly on the 

 scanty productions of their own soil, and the fish 

 of their own waters, the Joassamees directed' their 

 views to war and plunder. Their first captures were 

 the small coasting traders which, from their defence- 

 less state, soon fell an easy prey. Emboldened by 

 success, they directed their efforts to higher em- 

 Buckingham's Travels in Assyria, chap, xxiii. Morier's 

 Travels through Persia. 



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