'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.' [‎217] (378/612)

sultan-bin-el-imam-ahmed.
217
the enemy!" in order to test the pluck of Ahmed and ^Aly-
bin-Hilal; "for if," said he, "we find that on hearing the
alarm they go forth with their soldiers, we may infer that
they will fight; but if they keep within the wall with their
followers, and do nothing but discharge their muskets there
from in the air, we may conclude that they feel themselves
too weak to venture out." The party acted on this sug
gestion, and, shortly after, they heard the report of muskets
which were being fired from the walls into the open space,
whereby all were convinced of the cowardice of their brag
gart defenders. About an hour afterwards Sultan and his
force approached through the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. , with their swords
drawn, and singing as their war-song this noble sentiment,
" The right has come and has overthrown the wrong; the
wrong is overthrown !" When they reached my father's
house, my father went out to Sultan, took his hand, con
gratulated him, and informed him that he had read his letter
to the notables and merchants of Maskat, and that they had
expressed themselves much gratified at his consideration for
them. This news highly delighted Sultan, who then inquired
whether he could purchase a supply of dates for his hungry
followers. My father took out to them forty baskets-full,
and when his soldiers had eaten and rested Sultan ordered
them to march against the principal gate. There they en
countered a fusillade from the walls, fired by Ahmed's troops,
and were obliged to retire with the loss of six men. On
making a similar attempt a second time they were driven
off with the loss of three men. At dawn, 'Aly-bin-'Abdallah,
the sheikh of the Benu-Wahib, who had charge of the lesser
gate, came to Sultan, and after saluting him told him to
approach in that direction, promising to admit him. Sultan
accordingly accompanied him with his force, going by the
'Akabat-Miyabin, then turning off at the foot of the 'Akabat-
Sidab, and from thence into the road leading to the lesser
gate. On reaching it, 'Aly-bin-'Abdallah ordered his men to