'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.' [‎347] (508/612)

sa'id-bin-sultan.
347
Subsequently, the Seyyid levied a large force from Jaalan
and other districts, and proceeded with it to el-Bahrein,
accompanied by the sheikh Muhammad-bin-Nasir, el-Jabry.
On quitting Persia the new plague attacked his force, and
Muhammad-bin-Nasir advised him to postpone the expedi
tion. But the Seyyid determined to proceed, and on reach-
ing the island he planted his standard and encamped with
his force. His directions to the latter were : " Do not
attack the Benu-^Utbah : let us first have recourse to stra
tagem." This order was disobeyed by 'Abdallah-bin-Salim,
ezh-Zhahiry, who marched with his own followers against
them. On hearing the shouts from the contending parties
the Seyyid set off with his men, and in the encounter which
ensued the Benu-'Utbah were put to flight and many of
them killed. But when the Seyyid's force saw 'Abdallah-
bin-Salim and his party returning, inferring that they had
been worsted by the Benu-'L tbah, they forthwith dispersed,
and were pursued by the Benu-'Utbah, who played great
havoc among the fugitives. After losing many of his men
the Seyyid returned to Maskat. 1
1 The English official account of this expedition is as follows;—
" About November, 1828, his Highness arrived off Bahrein with his
ileet; and having landed a party of men took possession of the fort
outside without any opposition, and had fixed a day for the whole of his
forces proceeding against the town of Munamah, when he was surprised
to hear that Shaikh Tahnoon [the el-Kawasimy Chief of Abu-Zhdby,
one of his allies,J had landed without his orders. Hastily collecting a
few of his immediate followers and Nubian slaves, his Highness hurried
on shore, to endeavour to avert the consequence of this imprudent pro
ceeding. He was, however, too late : a small body of the Uttoobee
horse had been previously concealed in some date-groves on the flank,
which, issuing out while the Imaum's [the Seyyid Sa'id's] troops were
eagerly bearing forward to engage, charged in the rear, and at the same
time the L ttoobee infantry making a general advance, the assailants
were thrown into great confusion, and at last fled, completely routed, to
their boats, leaving a considerable number of killed, wounded, and
prisoners behind them.,..Discouraged by this defeat, and the ravages
committed among his followers by the cholera morbus, his Highness
affected to consider that the hand of Providence was against him, and
after an ineffectual attempt to conclude a peace with the Shaikh of