'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.' [‎166] (327/612)

THE IMAMS OF ^OMAN.
without being accompanied by a number of Kadhis, scho
lars, and notables, and a party of executioners, a brave set
of fellows.
Several persons who witnessed those glorious times have
informed me that when Ahmed-bin-Said visited Maskat he
generally spent twelve days there. On the eleventh he used
to go to the Western fort to examine the arms, water and
food; and from thence to the Eastern fort, passing by the
custom-house. When he approached its eastern entrance a
crier proclaimed : " O ye merchants, no duties will be levied
on any of the goods which you have deposited in the custom
house to-day"; for it was his practice on that day to remit
all duties on goods, which sometimes amounted to lacs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees , to
say nothing of hundreds. This was done, my father assured
me, up to the date of the Imam Ahmed-bin-Said's death.
My father also informed me that the revenue from the cus
toms at Maskat during the lifetime of this Imam was from
three to five lacs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in excess of all the expenditure. On inquir
ing of him respecting the Imam Ahmed's military forces, he
told me that their number was very great, scarcely to be
counted. He said the same of the soldiers which the Imam
maintained at er-Rastak and at Sohar. His dominions ex
tended from the end of Jaalan as far as Tawwam [el-Berei-
my]. Many 'Omany and other poets wrote eulogies of him,
all of whom he amply rewarded. The most renowned poet of
his day—who was also the most celebrated of the poets
of 'Oman—was the eloquent sheikh Eashid-bin-Said-bin-
Balhdsan, el-'Absy, el-Aflma, edh-Dharar, who wrote many
poetical eulogies of Ahmed.
As soon as Ahmed-bin-Said had assumed the government
of 'Oman, the Nizariyyah commenced disparaging his dig
nity, authority and position; and the heads of the el-Yaakib
wont to Belarab-bin-Himyar, 1 el-Yaaruby, who was then
residing at el-Bazily of ezh-Zhahirah, and said to him :
1 See pp. lol, 143.