'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.' [‎118] (151/612)

cxviii
introduction
placing the bulk of his aimy for service under Suleiman-bin-
Seif, the chief of the Benu-Riy^rn, inhabiting the Jebel-Akh-
dar^ passed with the remainder through Ibra and el-Bediyyah
into Jaalan, in order to secure the co-operation of the tribes
in that district. Duriug his absence, the troops under Sulei-
man-bin-Seif laid siege to Nezwa, closed the passes beyond
Semail, and obtained other advantages over their antago
nists, and only awaited Turky's order to advance upon Mas-
kat. In Jaalan, Turky prevailed upon the Benu-Abi-'Aly
and the Benu-Abi-Hasan, and other tribes to join him, and
then marched to Sur, where he encamped with 4,000 men
and 2,000 camels, intending to proceed to Maskat by the
coast route. The Seyyid 'Azzan, on the other hand, besides
taking every precaution to secure the maritime capital and
other important points on the littoral, has, it is said, come to
terms with the Benu-Naim on the north, and secured the pro
mised aid of several of the el-Hinawy tribes, who on finding
that Turky was destitute of funds to reward their services
incontinently deserted to his rival.
Such was the position of the contending parties at the end
of 1870. It is difficult to foresee which will eventually pre
vail ; the chances are decidedly in favour of'Azzan-bin-Kais,
for the simple reason that being already the de facto ruler,
and having the resources of the country, especially the re
venue from the customs athis disposal, he possesses the means,
which Turky does not, of paying the mercenary tribes to sup
port him. As regards the legitimacy of his pretensions, it
should be borne in mind that there is no recognized law regu
lating the succession to the sovereignty over ^Oman. Since
a.d. 1 741 it has been confined to those members of the House
of the Al-Bu-Said—which still commands the suffrages of the
majority of the population—who have been able to establish
their claims by superior force. But 'Azzan-bin-K.ais is a lineal
descendant of Ahmed-bin-Said, the first Imam of the dynast \,
at the same remove from him as the Seyyid Salim, and only