BANYANS. 
201 
aries. During the domination of the Portuguese, Mas- 
cat was in a flourishing condition, though they were 
never upon terms of amity with the Arabs, who 
sought every opportunity to dispossess them ; and 
this they finally accomplished, through the treachery 
of a Banyan merchant. This person enabled them to 
make themselves masters of the city, in consequence of 
the abduction of his daughter by the governor. The 
Arabs have continued to hold possession of it ever 
since that period. 
The Banyans are still numerous here, living un- 
der the protection of the Arabs, with whom they 
dwell in perfect harmony. They are allowed to fol- 
low their own modes of worship, and to be governed 
by their own laws. They set up their idols within 
their own houses, and are permitted to burn their 
dead upon the shore. The police is so admirably 
conducted, that there is not the slightest danger in 
walking the streets during any part of the night. 
The laws are rigidly enforced. Extensive theft is 
punished with death ; slighter thefts are visited with 
mutilation, — generally with the loss of a hand : thiev- 
ing, therefore, is so uncommon, that merchants leave 
their property in the streets without the slightest 
scruple. 
A few days after our arrival, we made an excur- 
sion to Muttra, a small town about two miles dis- 
tant, and paid a visit to an English officer who 
commanded an Arab ship of war. The crew seem- 
ed to be under perfect control, and to place absolute 
confidence in him. They appeared well acquaint- 
ed with European naval tactics ; but there was 
