'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.' [‎160] (321/612)

160
THE IMAMS OP 'OMAN,
mounted on horses and camels. On reaching Halfain he
looked right and left for the tree but could not see it.
" Perhaps it is dead," was his silent remark. Continuing
the search, mounted on his she-camel, he discovered that
its roots had been dried up by the sun. He then alighted,
as did also his attendants, whom he ordered to spread
carpets for him near the trunk of the withered tree. To
their great astonishment he further directed them to water
the animals there, though the heat was excessive. On his
arrival at Nezwa, one of the Kadhis who had accompanied
him on the journey asked him why he had put up near the
roots of the withered tree. He then told them how that
once, before his accession to power, he had taken shelter
under its branches while it was still green. Thereupon
the Kadhi remarked: "Do you respect that which is devoid
of reason and is dead?" "It does not become the generous,"
replied the Imam, " to forget benefits : he who does so is
not generous. The generous should recognize benefits re
ceived either from the animate or the inanimate." " I
think it is a wise precept," rejoined the Kadhi; " the
generous and noble ought not to forget such recognition."
The following are a few select instances illustrative of
Ahmed-bin-Said's justice and integrity :—
When in power he made a man of the Benu-Said com
mander over the garrison of the fort of er-Rastak. One
day the said commander got enraged with a butcher of the
place and caused the meat which was on his counter to bo
dragged on the ground and then bestrewed with ashes.
The reason was this : at first the commander used to make
the butcher wait only two days for the price of the meat
which he supplied; subsequently, however, he changed that
custom and made the butcher wait for his money until the
sum amounted to five hundred Mahmudis. Thereupon the
butcher refused to supply him any longer and turned away
his messengers who came to him for meat. Hence the act
above related.