'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.' [‎178] (339/612)

178
TFIK IMAMS OP 'OMAN.
other places and marched to Maskat, where he took up his
residence on the Island, and wrote to his two sons to liberate
their brother Said, On their refusal he directed the soldiers
in the Western fort to open fire upon the Eastern fort; he
also erected a stockade against it, and ordered the ships to
cannonade it on the east. The firing was kept up both by-
sea and land, and was returned at all points by the Eastern
fort; but, notwithstanding the fierceness of the conflict, Seif
and Sultan managed to receive supplies from Taiwa and Sur,
boats from those places bringing them dates, sheep and
fruits. Owing to the duration of the war, and in dread of
the shots from the guns, most of the Maskat people fled to
Yety [?] and Karyat, and other places. The guns having
demolished the western face of the Eastern fort, some of
the Imam^s people attempted to storm it, but on reaching
the first step leading to the fort they were driven back by a
fusillade from the garrison, and several of them were killed.
Then sheikh Jabr-bin-Muhammad, el-Jabry, went to es-Sir
and collected a great many men from Julfar, whose Amir
was the sheikh Sakar-bin-Eahmah, el-Hawaly, and pro
ceeding with them to er-Rastak surrounded that place, to
the great consternation of its inhabitants.
Now the Imam Ahmed-bin-Siiid had as a servant one of
the people of Manh. This man was in the Eastern fort with
Seif and Sultan, who had entrusted him to watch over their
brother Said. One dark cloudy night he went to Sj'iid and
asked him whether he would like to be restored to his
father. On receiving an affirmative reply, he tied a rope
to one of the guns in the fort, and, taking Said on his back,
descended. When they were within four ells of the ground
the rope broke and they both fell. The Manh man then
took Said to his father, who resided on the Island, and
knocking at the gate told the doorkeeper that he had
brought Said, the Imam's son. The doorkeeper thereupon
went to the Imam's room, and knocking with the ring of the