'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.' [‎16] (49/612)

xvi
introduction
in order that the amount of cattle-tithe due from them to
the Imam might be correctly estimated. 1
On the death of el-Muhenna, who had vigorously repressed
a rising of the Benu-Julanda,—the tribe of the old rulers,—
revolt became rife, and numerous parties were formed, all
aiming at the sovereign power. No less than sixteen boot
less councils were convened to put an end to the growing
disorders. During this state of anarchy some of the mal
contents applied for assistance to el-Muatadhid-b'Illah, the
Abbaside Khalifah at Baghdad— a . d . 892-902—by whose
orders Muhammad-bin-Nur, his governor over el-Bahrein,
invaded 'Oman by land with a force of twenty-five thousand
men, including one thousand cavalry, half of whom were clad
in coats of mail, levied principally from the en-Nizar and the
Benu-Tai. So great was the consternation created by the
impending attack, that many families left 'Oman for Hormuz,
el-Basrah, and Shiraz. After capturing el-Bereimy and the
district of es-Sirr, Muhammad-bin-Nur inarched to Nezwa,
which 'Azzan, the ruling Imam, had evacuated, but pursuing
him to S^med-esh-Shan, a battle was fought there in which
^Azzan was slain, and the conqueror sent his head as a
trophy to the Khalifah.
1 El-Mahrah had ceased to recognize the suzerainty of 'Om&n for
centuries, when the late Seyyid Sa'id, by a stretch of authority for which
lie was too glad to secure our countenance, made over the Curia-Muria
islands, on the coast of that province, then tributary to the sheikhs of
the Benu-Khalfan, at Marbat, to the British crown. The deed of con
veyance was as follows; "In the name of Almighty God! From the
humble Sa'id-bin-Sultan to all whom it may concern, Muslims and
others. Captain Freemantle having come to me from the great Queen,
asking from me the Islands of Khalfan, [namely.] el-Hallaniyyah, es-
Saudah, el-IIasekiyyah, el-Kubliyyah, and Jaruduah, I hereby give to
her imperial Majesty the Sovereign of England, her Majesty Queen
Victoria, the said islands, and to her children after her. I give them
absolutely, on my own behalf, and on behalf of my children after me,
of my own free will, and without any drawback on my part. Be this
known to all who may peruse this document. Written at Maskat, the
17th Shawal, 1270," = Uth, July. 1854.