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1S77. Sohdr and el-Bereymi in 'Oman. 
spent some time in looking over the place, the strength and importance of 
which in their eyes are by no means undervalued. The plain in which el- 
Bereymi stands being so level, the view from the upper towers is exten¬ 
sive and interesting, embracing as it does the whole of el-Jow. and enabling 
one to get a tolerably clear notion at a glance of the topographv of the 
settlement. To the S. W.. at a little distance off. lies Sedevri's house, 
erected manv vears ago bv that Wahhabi Chief for his own residence. It 
was solid! v built of stone, but was destroved bv Sevvid 'Azan in 1S70. who 
W • «f % 
disapproved of seeing so strong a fortified house so near the fort, and who 
required the stones of which it was built to repair and strengthen the latter. 
After leaving the fort. I spent some time in walking through the section of 
the settlement more particularly known as el-Bereymi. The dates had 
nearly all been gathered, and the tields were being just freshly sown for the 
spring harvest, except a few late tields of jowari, and the fruit season was 
over, so I did not see the place to full advantage, but the fields were neat 
and regular, and the orchards well cared for. Indeed, great attention is 
paid to horticulture throughout Oman, and at all the centres of population 
the * Bostans' are the great objects of interest. The houses in these 
settlements are seldom grouped together, but are scattered among the date 
groves; they are principally of mat and date leaf construction, and form 
perhaps the least obtrusive part of the landscape, A good proportion of 
the few mud houses was dilapidated and unrenanted. and gave a general air 
of unsubstantiality to the place. The verdant appearance of this oasis, how¬ 
ever. in which the tall and handsome foliage of the date is the predominant 
feature, is most attractive and refreshing to the eve of the traveller, and 
soon makes him oblivious of the drear and arid waste he has traversed 
to reach it. while the luxuriant vegetation, the sight and sound of running 
water, the almost entire absence of unproductive trees and plants, convey 
an impression of prosperity which is by no means borne out in reality. 
During the s eral of the Sheikhs came to visit meat Sa*reh. 
and as thev were communicative, I was glad of the conversation. Among 
those who came was Sheikh Ali-bin-Seif of the Beni Ka b, who lives at el- 
Mahdhah : he was loqv. sand. and was \ - as I should 
visit his tribe and settlement, but it was unfortunately not convenient to 
do so. and I was compelled to accept his invitation for another time. He 
toldmehe had been to el-Kiadh. having been taken captive by the Wahha¬ 
bis in his vouth and carried thither in irons. He believed they were - 1 dj s 
ou the road from el-Berevmi to el-Hasa, as thev travelled slowly, and there 
was plenty of water on the way. Xot having had time to visit any of the 
Beni Yas settlements in the morning, a messenger arrived from them invi¬ 
ting me to do so. but I was obliged to decline, as it was alreadv time for 
me to be taking my departure. At the suggestion of Sueikk Kashid. I re- 
