Evening star., 1928-04-22

fine trappings. All OF them were armed
with modern Smuggled rifles, and the
sheik carried an automatic pistol in his
waist band. secured by lanyard about
his neck. Each man, in addition 10
bandoliers Of cartridges had the silver
worked handle of q curved knife stick
ing from his waistcfGth.
&* =
THEY approached in a very casual
u manner. and arranged themselves
In half-circle before us. The Arab on
the milk-white camel spoke in Arabic,
but could not understand him. One
Of the HinduS understood, however. and
replied and I spoke To him in Hindu
stanl, telling hing to tell the Sheik that
was on government duty from MuScat.
that the HinduS were my servants, and
that l wanted to be taken 10 Sonar
Immediately.
One OF the Arabs laughed. and slap
ped the pommel of his saddle: then all
OF them jeered at me from under their
black ard white checkered headclothS,
The Sheik then asked II I were Ing
lesi" Knowing that Americans we're
unknown III this part Of the world,
said yes. I was English. At this they
looked very blackly at me. the Sheik
again said something that the Hindu
did not translate, refined up his camel
and motioned for US to follow them.
One of the Arabs in half playful.
half cruel manner. rode his horse
around behind the Indians and struck
them with his whip Several others
Joined in the sport, laughing the while.
but soon they rode up with the Sheik
and we were left to follow. The Hindu
must have told them that We were
driven ashore IN the Shimal, for after
we had proceeded short distance two
OF the Arabs rode on down the beach
10 see, I presume. II there was anything
worth taking from the bsached dhow
THEY seemed to take vicious de-
light IN Leaf ding us over the rock
lest. Stoniest country. I leaped from
stone to stone. seeking out the fiat and
rounded spots and trying 10 avoid
breaking my bare feet. They did not
once glance back. and made no effort
to stay the fast walking Of their camelS
and horses, In fact. II seemed that
they were enjoying my misery hugely.
It would have been useless to resist
following them, for an Arab is often
like a child who willfully tortureS a
bird. and would have thought nothing
OF sending bullet into me and riding
on. On the other hand. might con-
trive TO escape later, had no hope
OF being given my freedom, for / had
heard of the Arabs of the wild coast
of Oman before. and of the horrible
toftures and deaths white men had
suffered at their hands
1t was shortly past noon when We
came to an encamnment of black tents |
in narrow valley far back from the |
seacoast. and IN southeasteriy direc~ |
zion from where We had been captured |
One OF the Arabs then thought % |
search my clothing and found 100 |
rupees In notes and little pyak charm |
tmy only posaessionsl. which he hand |
ed 70 the sheik All the women and |
children came out Ia see us, and stare |
at me. and the Aindus were Immediate |
ly fiieked with whips, kicked at by the |
boys, yelled at. and sent into small |
tent, was later given some salty |
tasting water and handful OF dates |
and made Go sit In the shetkS tent, | |
never saw the Indians after that time, |
and believe that they were taken and |
sold into slavery To some other tribe, / |
thought that at least they would keep |
the one who spoke Arabic, as he was |
their only means of communicating |
with niA,
The sheIk was tall. stopping fig- |
uta al 4 man. with cleae-cropped |