'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.' [‎164] (325/612)

1G4
THE IMAMS OF 'OMAN.
all the people of el-Matrali had paid their respects to him,
he proceeded to Maskat in boats and canoes prepared for
the occasion. When he reached the Island 1 at Maskat, guns
were fired from the two batteries, the forts, and the shipping,
and the people resorted to the Island in crowds to salute
him and to receive his salutations. He would then ask
them if they had any requests to prefer; if they had, their
request was generally granted. Two days after he used to
send for his agents and the two Walis, Khamis-bin-Salim
and Khalfan-bin-Muhammad, and inquired whether the
revenue for the past year was under or above the expendi
ture ; whereupon they submitted the accounts to him. In
fine, this Imam had a large heart, was very liberal, very
humble towards God, and extremely condescending to the
poor and needy, ever ready to listen to what they had to
say.
[Then follows a long reply to some 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. who appears to
have questioned the author's opinion respecting the noble
qualities of the Imam, as exhibited in his gifts of sweetmeats
to the people. The author maintains his point by quotations
from the traditions relating to the life of Muhammad and
his immediate successors, and also by the policy pursued by
British protection, as having been formerly subjects of the Amirs of
Sind. Captain Burton, writing of the Khwajas of Sind, says ; " Their
own account of their origin, etc., is that they originally emigrated from
Persia ; and it is almost certain that they fled from their native country
when the Ismaeliyeh heresy (to which they still cleave) was so severely
treated by Halaku Khan. They differ from the Ismaeliyehs in one es
sential point, viz., whereas that people only believe in seven Imaums,
the Khwajas continue the line up to the present day. They are there
fore heterodox Sheeas, as they reject Omar, Abubekr and Osman, and
reverence Ali, Hasan, Hasein, Zainul-Abidin, Mahomed-i-Bakr, and
Imaum Giafari Sadik. The Khwajas, male and female, all wear white,
red, and coloured clothes, avoiding dark blue, the usual hue of the
country. They have their own Mukhee at Kurachee, and never go to
the Moslem Kazees to settle their religious differences." Bombay Go
vernment Selections, No. xvii. pp. 647-8.
1 See note, p. 79.