'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.' [‎15] (28/612)

editor's preface.
The course which I have taken with the author's
narrative is this :—In the first place, I have omitted
the opening Book, which upon examination was found
to consist mainly of elaborate genealogies of the Arab
tribes of Yemen, interspersed with occasional sketches
of their migrations and subsequent settlements,
copied for the most part from sources familiar to
European Orientalists. From these genealogies, how
ever, I have carefully culled every notice relating to
the origin of the tribes now occupying 'Oman, and
have availed myself of them in the Introduction to
connect the period at which the author sets out with
the antecedent history of the country, as far back as
documentary evidence carries us.
With the exception of the above named omission
and a few irrelevant episodes and laudatory poems, I
have given a translation of the whole work. Many
readers will probably be wearied with the details ot
petty wars and intestine broils, which constitute the
main feature of the narrative ; on the other hand,
however, it is only by a close study of a people, as
they describe themselves, that a trustworthy appre
ciation of their modes of thinking and acting, ol their
social economy, and of their way of conducting them
selves towards other people can be formed. Inci
dental remarks and coincidences in connection with
such matters, however trifling they may at first sight
appear, on reflection are frequently found to shed
light by which we are enabled to solve satisfactorily
more important questions. To the true inquiiei
with a political or historical object, particulars of the