'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.' [‎144] (305/612)

144
THE IMAMS OF 'OMAN.
and remained posted at el-Hufiy, and in the tower of el-
Mazra, belonging to Barkah.
The Persians stationed at Belila, receiving no news of
their comrades who had proceeded to Maskat, dispatched a
hundred horsemen to inquire about them. On the 8th of
Saiar, the first day of their march through Semail, the in
habitants, together with Himyar-bin-Munir and his men
who held the fort for Belarab-bin-Himyar, encountered and
slew most of them. Thereupon Himyar-bin-Mumr and the
soldiers under him of the people of Azka and the Benu-
Riyam marched to Behla, which they entered and captured
on the 21st of the same month, the Persians retiring into
the fort, which was at once besieged by the assailants.
During the siege the Persians sallied out to attack the
Arabs, but most of them were killed, so that only a few of
the garrison remained. These subsequently surrendered to
Seif-bin-Sultan, who allowed them to leave with their arms,
chattels, and animals, and ordered Mubarak-bin-Said, el-
Ghafiry, to escort them to Sohar. Sohar at that time was
being invested by their comrades, but at some distance from
the fort. The party escorted by Mubarak-bin-Said was
attacked by Ahmed-bin-S:iid, who killed most of them and
confined the remainder in the fort, where they all died.
The Persian forces which had left Maskat and taken up
their quarters at Barkah now retired to es-Sir, and a por
tion of them returned to their own country. This occurred
after Seif-bin-Sultan had set a large army in motion against
them by land, and a number of ships to attack them at sea.
On reaching the village of Khatt, which is near to es-Sir,
he learnt that his ship called el-Malk had been burnt and
all the crew drowned, on Friday, fifteen days before the ex
piration of Shawal, a.h . 1151 [14th January, 1789]. He
then returned to ^Oman, some of the Persians remaining at
es-Sir ; the remainder were at Sohar, engaged in besieging
the fort.