THE SQUADRON. 



77 



with its single and double tiers of guns these 

 peaceful traders, of whom, by-the-by, some are 

 desperate pirates. The number is imposing; 

 but the decks have no awnings against the 

 weather, the masts are struck and stripped to 

 save rigging, the yards lie fore-and-aft upon the 

 booms, the crews consist of half-a-dozen thievish, 

 servile ' sons of water ' (M'ana Map) ; rats and 

 cockroaches compose the live stock; the am- 

 munition is nowhere, and though the quarter 

 and main decks are sometimes swept, everything 

 below is foul with garbage and vermin. The ex- 

 teriors are dingy ; the interiors are so thoroughly 

 rotted by fresh water that the ships are always 

 ready to go down at their anchors. The whole 

 thing is a mistake amongst Arabs, who are fitted 

 only for a ' buggalow,' or at best a ' grab.' The 

 late Sayyid once attempted English sailors, who 

 behaved well as long as they did what they 

 pleased, especially in the minor matters of 'baccy 

 and grog ; but when the dark-faced skipper 

 began loud speaking and tall threats, they incon- 

 tinently thrashed him upon his own quarter- 

 deck, and were perforce 'dismissed the service.' 

 Every captain in the It. X. Maskat, besides im- 

 pudently falsifying the muster-rolls, will steal 

 the fighting-lanterns, the hammocks, and other 



