'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.' [‎174] (335/612)

174
THE IMAMS OF 'OMAN.
force was towards Hasanain [or Hadhain] . Now, the slieikli
'Abdallah-bin-Salih, er-Ruwaliy, and the sheikhs of the el-
Maawal were opposed to this attack on Nakhl, being con
vinced that Muhammad-bin-Suleiman had done nothing to
justify it; consequently, after the siege had been maintained
for some time the sheikh ^Abdallah returned to his district,
taking his men of the Benu-Ruwahah with him. The sheikhs
of the el-Maawal also returned home with their respective
followings, without asking the permission of the Imam, who
was then at er-Rastak ; so that none of his army remained
at Nakhl but the Zidgals and the contingent from er-
Rastak. These began to cut down the date and other trees
until they left scarcely any remaining. Then Muhammad-
bin-Himyar, el-Yaaruby, went to ezh-Zhahirah to ask the
Nizariyyah on the part of Muhammad-bin-Suleiman to come
to the assistance of Nakhl; but they showed cowardice and
were not inclined to accede to the request. He then went
on the same errand to the Benu-Naim Arabs, whose sheikh
at the time was Shamis-bin-Muhammad-bin-Bayat, esh-
Shamisy, who gave his consent, and accompanied Muham-
mad-bin-Himyar with a thousand men of the Benu-Naim
and Kutb. On reaching Yabrin each of these carried a
couple of bags filled with straw on his camel. When they
entered the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. of the Benu-Ruwahah, the latter thoufjlit
^ O
they were laden with dates which they intended taking to
Mdskat for sale ; but no sooner had they left the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. than
they cast the straw away, and, spurring their camels, entered
el-Matrah after sunset, taking the inhabitants by surprise,
plundered the market and dwellings, and then retired with
much booty towards their homes. At Safra-'l-Ijal, on the
ascent to Nakhl, the el-Maawal came out against them, but
were repulsed ; and on entering Nakhl they were surprised
to find that all the Imam Ahmed-bin-Said's forces had left
it. The cause of the departure of the Zidgals and the men
ol er-Rastak, who together had formed the Imam^s army