78 



//. m:s consulate. 



articles useful at home ; whilst the care-takers 

 sell in the hazar, junk, rope, and line; copper 

 bolts, brass- work, and carpenter's chests bearing 

 the government mark. When a ship is wanted 

 an Arab Nakhoda (here called Nahoza), a Mu- 

 allim or sailing-master, and a couple of Suk- 

 kanis (pilots), are sent on board with a crew 

 composed of a few Arab non-commissioned 

 officers and ' able seamen,' Baloch, Maskatis, and 

 slaves. The commander, who receives some 50 

 dollars per lunar month, kills time with the 

 cognac bottle ; the sailing-master (7 dollars) 

 dozes like a lap-dog in his own arm-chair on the 

 quarter-deck ; and the seamen do nothing, Jack 

 helping Bill. One of these vessels sent to Eng- 

 land a few years ago lost, by want of provisions 

 and bad water, 86 out of its crew — 100 men ; 

 and can we wonder at it ? A single small screw- 

 steamer, carrying a heavy gun, and manned and 

 commanded by Europeans, would have been 

 more efficient in warfare, and far more useful in 

 peace, than the whole squadron of hulks. It is, 

 however, vain to assure the Arab brain that mere 

 number is not might ; and, indeed, so it is when 

 people believe in it. 



The high and glassless windows of H. M.'s 

 Consulate enable us to prospect the city. Zan- 



