'History of the imâms and seyyids of 'Omân by Salîl-ibn-Razîk, from A.D. 661-1856; translated from the original Arabic, and edited with notes, appendices, and an introduction, continuing the history down to 1870, by George Percy Badger, F.R.G.S., late chaplain in the Presidency of Bombay.' [‎24] (185/612)

24. THE IMAMS OF 'OMAN.
and expel liim the country. A great many answered the
appeal and joined him with a large body of soldiers. Mu-
hammad-bin-Nur on hearing this lost heart and took to
flight, followed by el-Ahif and his army. It had been de
cided, as the best strategy, that no attempt should be made
to overtake him, but that he should be allowed to escape.
God, however, had decreed otherwise, and in order to fulfil
His designs they marched quickly, and came up with him at
Daba, 1 where a fierce battle was fought, wherein many were
killed on both sides; but Muhammad-bin-Nur fled, and was
pursued as far as the sea-coast at es-Sib. 3 At this juncture
the enemy was reinforced by a large body of mounted war
riors, and others of the el-Mudhriyyah, two men riding
on each camel, who were dispatched by ^Obeidah-bin-Mu-
hammad, esh-Shamy, to the assistance of Muhammad-bin
Niir. On reaching the spot the riders alighted, and seizing
their weapons joined Muhammad-bin-N^r in an attack upon
el-Ahif and his followers. In this engagement the people of
'Oman were overcome, and el-Ahif with many of his own
tribe and others was slain. None were saved except those
whose death was deferred. Thereupon Muhammad-bin-Nur
returned to Nezwa, and continued to rule over 'Oman with
the greatest severity. He dispersed the inhabitants and
ravaged the country, destroying much of its cultivation and
turning the delight of the people into contempt. He cut off
the hands and ears, and scooped out the eyes of the nobles;
he inflicted unheard-of tortures and outrages upon the people;
he destroyed the water-courses, burnt the books, and utterly
desolated 'Oman.
1 Daba, the "Dibbah" of our charts, a seaport on the east coast of
'Oman. It was here that Abu-Bekrs generals encountered and defeated
the early rebels against Islam, as mentioned in the Introduction. It is
described as being at that time the principal maritime town and marke
of 'Oma,n. ,,
2 Es-Sib, a small town on the coast about thirty miles north o ^ a. -
kat A large portion of the market-boats for M&skat load here, the
locality being conveniently situated for the people residing in the culti
vated parts of the interior.