'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.' [‎35] (68/612)

AND ANALYSIS.
XXXV
the tribes of 'Oman,—they secured themselves from further
molestation by dismissing the refugee, who thereupon made
his way to M^skat. On Muhammad-bin-Nasir's return to
Nezwa he assembled the learned together and placed his
resignation in their hands, declaring that he was tired of
continuing the contest. The people, however, fearing the
vengeance of Khalf, begged him to assume the sovereignty.
On receiving their solemn promise of allegiance, he acceded
to their request, and was elected Imam on the 2nd of Oc
tober, 1724. On the following Friday he read himself in,
as it were, by leading in the public prayers at Nezwa.
The state of affairs at this period was as follows :—the
el-Ghafiry and their allies had so far prevailed against the
el-Yaarubah, the el-Hinay, and the other Yemeny tribes,
that they now saw one of their number elevated to the
highest dignity over 'Oman. Their representative, Mu-
hammad-bin-Nasir, the newly-elected Imam, was master of
Nezwa and most of ezh-Zhahirah, and he held in his power
the person of the young Imam, Seif-bin-Sultan, and his
principal partisans among the el-Yaarubah, whom he con
ducted to Yabrin, where he took up his residence. Khalf,
on the other hand, the leader of the lienu-IIinah, and Mu
hammad's most formidable rival, together with those of the
el-Yaarubah who were disposed to make common cause
with him, had possession of Maskat, Barkah, es-Sib, and
Sohar, the most important places on the coast, and also the
inland capital, er-Rastak.
Muhammad-bin-Nasir soon found that his election to the
Imamate exasperated rather than allayed the antagonism of
his opponents. He was obliged to appeal once more to the
northern tribes for assistance, and marched with a large
army to Sohar, which tendered its submission at once; but
the castle held out against him. In the meantime, Khalf-
bin-Mubarak, his old rival, w T as on the alert, watching tor
every opportunity to checkmate his manoeuvres. Hopeless