256 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



I witnessed, however, at Muscat, the abduction of a child by its 

 own father : who had taken advantage of the temporary absence of 

 the mother. The screams of the little one while being borne to the 

 landing, found no response from the bystanders, further than an ex- 

 pression of blame, for a right being exercised. " in such a manner as 

 to break its heart." 



The name of Ishmael was well known at Muscat; and two classes 

 of Arabs were recognised, " who are fighting to this day. The Kah- 

 tan Arabs, ruled formerly for a century and a half; and they are 

 many of them a fine-looking set of men, having, unlike the Abyssi- 

 nians, regular hair. They are all Muslims, and are not rare in the 

 Interior; but there were none of them residing in Muscat. The 

 Imaum's family, came from the town of Adam, in Uzjd, and belonged 

 to the other class of Arabs, the Hameer ; as did likewise, most of the 

 people of Muscat, and many of the Bedouins. Inscriptions on the 

 rocks, are unknown in Eastern Arabia." 



At Muscat, I saw an Egyptian of the lower class, who had arrived 

 doubtless by the way of the Persian Gulf. I was also surprised by 

 a reminiscence of Egyptian history. A wealthy Arab, in speaking of 

 some law-decisions, declared, that the judges were "as bad as Pha- 

 raoon who took Mussera." 



The Bedouins visiting Muscat, differed in personal appearance 

 from those seen at Mocha ; and they were more readily recognised as 

 belonging to the White race. Their complexion, however, in most 

 instances, seemed to be yet darker than in the Mongolian race. 

 Their long hair was much undulated ; and they usually wore a fillet 

 around the head, such as is seen on the Pharaonic monuments, in 

 representations of captive monarchs. One of the Bedouins, who 

 bore no outward marks of distinction, was pointed out to me as being 

 chief "over a thousand men; all to get angry whenever he is angry, 

 and at no expense." 



I was informed, that no one came to Muscat from a greater distance 

 inland than two or three hundred miles, and that the great interior of 

 Arabia is unknown, even to the Bedouins; who, however, suppose it 

 to be inhabited. Persons sometimes go by land to Mecca, keeping 

 near the Persian Gulf; but this is not often done, the route being 

 considered dangerous from the scarcity of water ; and the usual 

 course, is by sea to Bahrein, and thence through the Interior. 



The communication along the outer coast of Arabia, is carried on al- 

 together by sea. Captain MacFarland, of Salem, joined us at Muscat, 



