188 Account of a Journey to Beylah. [March, 



Oot consists of two small villages belonging to Arab Oosmanany, 

 the chief of the Arab Gudoor tribe, one containing about 50 and the 

 other 25 houses. The baggage not having come up, the carpets were 

 spread under the shade of a large tree, and we were quickly surrounded 

 by the whole population, to whom our dress and appearance seemed to 

 afford considerable amusement. Arab Oosmanany, the chief, was at the 

 village waiting to conduct us to Beylah ; and being informed of our 

 arrival came to pay us a visit, the whole of the villagers having been 

 previously summoned to compose his retinue. In the course of conver- 

 sation, I told him that amongst the presents there was one for him, 

 which he begged might be delivered in the presence of the Jam. In 

 the evening he sent us a sheep, with a quantity of flour, rice, ghee, &c, 

 and requested we would let him know if we wanted any thing else. 



At noon next day the Kossid who had been dispatched to Beylah 

 the night before, to announce our approach, having returned, we left 

 Oot accompanied by Arab Oosmanany and a small party of military 

 followers. For the whole distance the road passed through a succes- 

 sion of cultivated ground, interspersed with small thickets composed of 

 a high bushy tree which appears something like the willow. As we left 

 Oot we met ten or twelve hideous looking beings dressed as women, and 

 mounted on donkeys, who saluted us as they passed ; from their pecu- 

 liarly disgusting appearance and bold manners, I was induced to 

 inquire of my companion who they were : he laughed, and said they 

 were eunuchs. Descending by a deep irregular water course into the dry 

 bed of a river flowing from the N. E. and about 700 yards broad, we 

 crossed it and entered Beylah. On approaching the town the housetops 

 were seen literally covered, and the streets thronged with people : as 

 we entered it the crowd set up a wild shout, shrieking and hallooing 

 with all their might, and created such a dust that I was almost suf- 

 focated. The ladies also favoured us with a shrill scream, but whether 

 of welcome, admiration, or disgust, I cpuld not exactly make out. The 

 young Jam, we were told, was amongst the spectators. Arab Oosma- 

 nany turned off to the palace to report our arrival, and we were con- 

 ducted to a house which had been prepared for our reception ; it was a 

 most wretched dwelling, but with the exception of the palace, as good 

 as any other in the town. The people crowded into the outer room 

 without ceremony, and although the Jam had sent six soldiers to keep 

 them out, they found it impossible to do so, and I was at last obliged to 

 turn every one out myself and fasten the door: whenever it was opened 

 a general rush was made, and some hard lighting took place between 

 the guard and the mob before the latter could be driven back. Some 

 of the principal inhabitants confiding in their rank, rudely walked into 



