'Annals of 'Omān' [‎66] (83/112)

6G
Annals of '■Oman.
this, peace was concluded. Meanwhile Khalf-hin Mubarik el-Kasir, seeing
Mohammed-bin Nasir engaged in the siege of el-Seleyf, laid siege to el-
Kostak. Now Saba' el-'Amur! had previously taken the Fort of Sohar.
When Sinan-bin Mohammed el-Mahthur el-Ghafiri, the warden of the
Fort, was killed, Mohammed-bin Nagir el-Harrasi and his followers came
forth from the Fort of el-Iiostak, and, Khalf-bin Mubarik entering, the
place was surrendered to him.
Saba' el-'Amuri had meanwhile taken the Fort of Sohar, and Moham
med-bin Nasir found himself unable to return from el-Seleyf and march to
the relief of el-Eostak and Sohar, for fear his enemies in el-Dhahireh should
become too strong for him.
Khalf el-Kasir then moved against the Fort of el-Hazam, the Wall of
which was 'Omer-bin Salih-bin Mes'ud el-Ghafiri. He besieged the place,
and diverted the course of the stream which supplied it with water. He
then sent a message to the Wali, offering safe passage for him and his men,
on condition of their evacuating the Fort. The Wall refused, and wrote to
Mohammed-bin Nasir to inform him of what had occurred, and that they
had no water except a small quantity in a cistern. Mohammed, accordingly,
having made peace with the people of el-Seleyf and razed their Fort,
proceeded to el-Hazam with an innumerable army, and when he reached
that place, fell upon Khalf's forces. After many had been slain, the latter
took to flight, leaving their arms, ammunition, and provisions behind.
Mohammed-bin Nasir then returned to el-Dhahireh without visiting el-
Eostak, his object being Bilad-Seyt. Having assembled a numerous force
of " Bedii" and " Hadhr," he marched from el-Dhahireh to Bilad-Seyt.
The inhabitants refusing to comply with his summons to submission, he
laid siege to the place, and his men having assaulted, slew many of the
people.
He next attacked el-'Aridh, which belonged to the Benu-'Adi, and took
that place, and also Ghamar. The uplands of the Benu-Hinah fell into his
hands, and none of that tribe remained in them. Some were slain, and
those who asked quarter were sent away in safety. In the attack on Bilad-
Seyt, about ten of Mohammed-bin Nasir's men were slain and sevel'al
wounded. He then ordered his army to Nezvva, where he remained about six
months, during part of the winter, until harvest time. Having summoned
the people of the Manah [or Manh] district to submit to him, they refused,
so he sent a force against them which surrounded them, and cut down their
date trees at Felej el-iikein and Jarr-'Ali, and, when their property was
destroyed, they made their submission.
Mohammed-bin Nasir then returned to el-Dhahireh, and, halting at el-
Ghabbx of el-Sirr, busied himself raising a fresh army, until he had collected a
large number of " Bedu and " Hadhr." He ordered the people of el-Dhahireh