'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.' [‎84] (245/612)

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the imams of 'oman.
nothing. If you wish to succeed you must proceed in this
way : on Sunday next march quickly to Maskat, for I have
done so and so to them because they acted in such and such
a manner towards me about the betrothal. Consequently,
the two forts and the two batteries are now quite stript of
weapons, provisions and ammunition, and the community
do not cany their arms on Sunday, that being their feast day,
and are engaged in drinking wine and in playing on musical
instruments; therefore if you can make your way into Mas-
kat you will gain your object. Then hasten on with your
force to the entrances of the two forts and set fire to the
closed gates, for I have removed all the old gunpowder
therefrom, and have replaced it with powder sprinkled with
vinegar, which can do no harm. Do not delay beyond the
day which I have named, for if you reject my advice, and
follow the contrary counsel of others, you will not succeed
though you prosecute the siege for years.
When the Imam read the letter and Narutem's advice as
contained therein, and the trick which he had pla3 T ed off
upon the Portuguese in consequence of the dispute con
nected with the proposed marriage—the truth of which the
writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. affirmed with a solemn oath—he sent an affirmative
reply by the messenger, but kept the matter secret from
the nobles and commons. The messenger returned in high
glee to Narutem, who on hearing that the Imam had ac
quiesced in his proposal was so overcome with joy that he
could have flown to the Imam without winofs.
On the appointed Sunday the Imam offered up the Prayer
of Dawn with his people, and then the Prayer of War; after
which he prayed that God would give the Muslims the vic
tory over the polytheists. He then marshalled his troops
and set forth with them at quick time. On reaching the
summit of the mountains forming the Great Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. of M&skat,
he selected those who should attack the wall, and those who
.should rush onward to the entrances of the two forts and