"تاريخ أئمة وأسياد عُمان بقلم سليل ابن رزيق، من ٦٦١-١٨٥٦ م، مترجم من الأصل العربي، ومُحرّر بملاحظات وملاحق ومقدمة تواصل التاريخ حتى سنة ١٨٧٠، بقلم جورج بيرسي بادجر، عضو في الجمعية الجغرافية الملكية والقس الراحل في رئاسة بومباي." [‎٣‎١‎٢] (٦١٢/٤٧٣)

312
THE IMAMS OP 'OMAN.
most excellent of God's creatures." a What say you, then/'
rejoined the other, " of those who are buried near the tomb
of the Apostle of God, and whose graves are nigh to his ;
are such in heaven or in fire?" "They are in heaven,"
replied the Mirza, who, seeing that Nasir had the best of
the argument, added, " with the exception of these two, to
wit, Abu-Bekr and ^Omar." " Have you any proof for that
statement either from the Book or the holy SunnaliV asked
Nasir. As the Mirza did not attempt to reply, Nasir took
leave of him, feeling that he had vanquished him, and re
turned forthwith to the Seyyid Salim.
When the interpreter had translated the colloquy to the
Shah, the latter sent one of his Wazirs to the Mirza with
this message : " The Kadhi of 'Oman has overcome you:
you have disgraced us by your answers, and brought con
tempt on the Shiay creed. You deserve to be beaten with
sticks rather than to dispense law and justice. Therefore,
quit your office and become the companion of clowns or
sweepers." The Mirza, on his part, poured forth a volley
of abuse upon the Wazir.
When Nasir reached the Seyyid and reported all that had
occurred, the Seyyid said : " Nasir, you have imperilled us
by your tongue; you have disobeyed my injunctions and
your companionship will do us no good/' But Mftsa re
marked : " Know, O Seyyid, that the sheikh Nasir has done
well and not ill, and I augur from it a favourable settlement
of your affairs by the Shah." Nevertheless, the Seyyid
retired that night very much disquieted, owing to Nasir^s
discussion with the Mirza; and he was the more apprehen
sive because the Shah himself had heard the colloquy, and
he was under the impression that the Shah had entrusted
his (Salim's) mission to the Mirza's decision. The next
morning, however, the Shah dispatched his principal Wazir,
who was accompanied by a great concourse of people, to
Salim, and who, after he was seated, said to him : " The