The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-08-17

49,. ha SPECIALIZED Firate coas,
Just within the great point OF land
v hich almost closes the mouth Ut tile
-rs.an gu f. the sailing ground of Sin
had th4. Sailor. This region was .
hnse Of operation for pirates as trou' /
,.esolle lii he first half Of the Nine |
teenth century Of the Indian and |
Persian trade as were the Carib-
bean pirate nests to the ships thai
piled between Panama and Europe
century or so earlier. The inhabitants
Of the Pirate coast were extremely
fanatical as well, which added to their
trouble making qualities. British gun
boats. with the assistance Of Indian
forces put an end to the depredations,
and the one-time pirates Of this region
have now mostly turned to pearl div
ing for a living
Trip Through the Country.
A journey from the Pirate coas,
across the base Of the great point Ut
skan to Sohr or some Of the adjacent
ports, q trip OF about 100 miles. gives
an excellent idea Of the back country
Df this little-known state. Caravans
making this trip usually travel at night
and rest under whatever shade may
i've found during the day. On the sec
ond day one passes villages and cult
waited fields and at night sleeps sur
ounded by thousands Of rheep and
goats. driven in by Bedouin lasses
from their mountain pastures. Even
among these shepherds one finds read
RS. and co!porteurs sell books wher-
YER the camels halt long enough to
strike a bargain. In entering the
narrow pass Of Hitta. the guides 60
ahead mounted. with rifles loaded and
cocked.
Travellers are not troubled with the
heat at night. but during the day II
. Is intense, and II Is refreshing TO come
to an oasis Common in this part OF
Ol.,an), where water bursts from BIZ
! sprirg. and trees and flowers grow II
l luxury. In the mountainous parts o.
l Ou.an the roads run almost inrariahl!
!. along the watly beds; sometimes thes'
a are sandy water courses; again deel
a rocky ravines or broad fertile valleys
: Vegetation generally Is toierably ahun
tiant. TannriSks. "leanders, eGrhoi
bias. and acac'as are the most com
{. mon trees and shrubs.
Il Some Of It unexp.o-ed.
Although some ,raNeiers hav
reached the edge Of the Oman desert
!. Vii the country beyond Is still Target
I, IRA incoSnita. No one has ever mad
= the journey beyond the range Of mour
!. Trims ar solved he lny terry OF wes'
" ern Oman, VIII Oh Is still blank O
" the hes, map; nor is anything know
:, of the land 100 miles southwest G
Muscat save by Arab h.arsay.
=, The most populous and fertile d''
~ trict of the highlands OF Oman is Je!'
n Akhtar. which is a. so tie best knowi
n The fertility of this region is wons!e
h. ful and in striking contra with II
-. barren rocks of 81 large part of II
no const. With semi-trOpicai clinn:
/, an elevation of 5000 TO 5000 feet al.
70 abundant springs. the wadys al
m eases Of Oman have awakened the u
ri light and amazeulent of every ua"e.'
nj who has ventured to explore tliri
~, Water. the ole priceless treasure
.r all Arabia, here issues in perenn!
streams from many rocky clcfts. ri
.s Is most carefully husbanded by the !
of genuity Of the people for willie irrig
,r ton by means OF canals or waite
~ courses called faluj.
,h Evccpt along the Pirate coast q
ne Arabs Of Oman are remarkably fr
10 from fanatlcism. simple In their habit
Of and wonderful IN their hospitali1
he Most Of them belong ia the Abad
all sect. which has many beliefs In col
ia mon with Christianity.