"معاملات الجمعية الجغرافية في بومباي. من يناير ١٨٦٣ حتى ديسمبر ١٨٦٤. (تحرير السكرتير.) المجلد XVII." [‎٧‎٠] (٥٢٤/٢٣٥)

70
REMARKS ON THE TRIBES, &c.
Euphrates and Shat-ul-Arab down along the pirate coast above described,
and thence round Cape Mussendom along Muscat, Oman, to Ras-ul-
Had, on tlie Aden line.
1 f 9 It was a Cazee or Mollali of Busreh, named Wahab, who (^or
whose son), permeating these tribes with the metamorphic agency of a
religious idea, fused them into an aggressive mass, which cropping out
alom- the shore lines of Muscat and the Western coast of the Persian
Gulf; compelled all these subdued tribes into plunder and piracy.
Hence the once notorious appearance of the Maritime Arabs as pirates;
hence our expeditions to the West coast of the Gulf; and hence the
Ras-ul-khymas and Beni-Boo-Alis blending with our colours. An Arab
Sheikh endeavoured to explain to me the nature of this unenduring
Wahahee power, by likening it to the agency ot Lord Clive, in conquer
ing India with a sepoy army. The leading tenets of Wahab’s faith
seem to have been those common to Prophets, to proclaim himself and
the Unity of the Creator, and kill or plunder his immortal creatures.
120. I confess that during my recent journey to Koweit, I was
much impressed by the Arab character: I found in it an applombe,
sound sense, thoughtfulness, and ready energy which contrasted favour
ably with at least one other Oriental people. It is worthy of notice,
that whatever the Arabs possess, seem to be the best of their kind;
their horses, dogs, poultry ; their mules and donkeys; their dates;
their coffee; their pearls; their spices and their frankincense.
121. They have been called for centuries vindictive, cruel. It is
remarkable, however, that in no country in the world is the brute crea
tion so much the friend of man; in no country is there that mutual
confidence between man and beast; nowhere else that I have passed
does the horse, and even the greyhound, seem so thoroughly to com
prehend language addressed to them by man.
122. I crossed the desert when it was in blossom in the spring.
The plain had recently been trampled by the feet of Bedouin camps,
where every man’s hand is against his neighbour- Yet even the birds
seemed to welcome me. The lark, rising trustfully just in front of
my bridle, startled the solemn silence of the desert with its happy song,
and again breasting earth, all was still. Anon, a little lady of the Finch
tribe would trip along beside me, evidently quite glad of a chance for
prettily chirping the news : pity I could not make out what she said.