Oasis of the Red Rock
This description of the oasis of the red rock, confirms what I wrote in earlier posts. The main part of a Tahari Oasis is agriculture. Also, as you can read here, nobody stopped the caravan or even question the raiders. No mentioning of a city wall or gate at all. They just rode in and looked for an inn.
Unlike other areas of Gor, in the Tahari strangers are not looked at with suspicious or as enemies. The opposite appears to be the case. The oasis seems not even to be walled.
The explanation for this is really quite simple. The tribes in these oasis-es live very remote. They need the visit of caravans for trade hence they welcome them. At night time they even allow bandits and raiders to enter the oasis to do trade with them.
It was the next day, at the eleventh Ahn, one Ahn past the Gorean noon, that we arrived at the Oasis of Red Rock.
It was dominated by the kasbah of its pasha, Turem a’Din, commander of the local Tashid clans, on its rim to the northeast. There were five palm groves. At the east of the oasis lay pomegranate orchards. Toward its lower parts, in its center, were the gardens. Between two of the groves of date palms there was a large pool. The kasbah contained a single gate. On the summits of its four towers flew petitions, those of the Tashid and Aretai.
“Do you fear to enter the oasis of a vassal tribe of the Aretai?” asked Hassan.
“We are far from Nine Wells,” I said.
“I think, too, there is little danger,” said Hassan.
We entered the oasis slowly, single file, in caravan style. There is almost always a constant, hot wind on the Tahari. Our burnooses lifted behind us, slowly, swelling, over the flanks of our animals. The girl, Alyena rode next to the last in our line, in the position of least status; she was followed by one of Hassan’s men, the guard; such a guard is commonly posted; he, from time to time, watches the trail behind the caravan and, of course, prevents the escape of slave girls.
The oasis, which we were entering, is named for the Battle of Red Rock, which is a large shelf of reddish sandstone behind the oasis, north by northeast from its lowest point, and center. It was used as the vantage point for the Aretai commander at that time, Hammaran, who also launched at a crucial point in the struggle, his picked cavalry, and bodyguard, from that height, turning the battle’s tide.
The Tashid commander of the time, Ba’Arub, died on the shelf of red stone, with ten men, trying to reach Hammaran. It was said that he came within ten yards of him. Ba’Arub was, it was said, a brave man. It was also believed that if he had stood siege in his kasbah, in time Hammaran would have been forced to retire.
It is difficult to maintain a lengthy siege in the Tahari. Food supplies at the oasis are short, except for the stores in the kasbah, and supply lines are long, and difficult to defend. Had Ba’Arub destroyed or fouled the public wells at Red Rock, those outside the walls of the kasbah, Hammaran would have been forced to retire in twenty-four hours, and perhaps lose most of his men on the return march to his country.
But, being of the Tahari, Ba’Arub, as it is told in the stories, related about the campfires, would not do this. It is said he came within ten yards of Hammaran.
Men regarded us with some curiosity, as is common when newcomers arrive at an oasis, but I detected neither apprehension nor hostility. The wars and raids, I gathered, had not touched Red Rock. A child ran beside the stirrup of Hassan, playing. “You have no bells on your kaiila,” said the child.
“They were stolen by raiders,” said Hassan. The boy laughed and ran beside him.
“We shall seek an inn,” said Hassan.
Sheraka of Tyros
Caste of Scribes
