'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.' [‎14] (27/612)

editor's preface.
hand to aid him in compiling his comprehensive
sketch of its history. He candidly tells us that he
recounts the tale as he heard it from the inhabitants,
and therefore it is no disparagement to him person-
ally to say, that it is a tissue of fallacies from begin
ning to end, proved to be such by the whole tenour
of this work, the general authenticity of which is ad
mitted by the intelligent of all parties in 'Oman.
Respecting the Principality during the last half
century, especially in its relations with the neigh
bouring Arab tribes and also with the Wahhabis of
Nejd, the volume of the Selections above referred to
contains much miscellaneous information, communi
cated to the Indian Government by successive Resi
dents in the Persian Oulf. Some of these papers
are admirable as records of current events alono- the
coast, but they are either conspicuously meagre or
decidedly misleading as regards the domestic con
cerns and institutions of the country. For instance
it is impossible to learn from the entire collection
what were the functions and prerogatives of the
Imamate; and until within the last ten years the
order of succession to the sovereignty over 'Omdn
was still a« moot point with our politicals, which
required to be determined by special investigation.
Even the native nomenclature is generally so dis
torted that it is frequently impossible to identify the
transliteration with the original. In this respect the
latest oflicial dispatches are even worse than those of
an earlier date, and betray an utter ignorance of the
elements of the Arabic language.