"سجلات تاريخ عُمان" [‎٤‎٥] (١١٢/٦٢)

Booh Sixth.
45
Sole
they had experienced from civil wars, it came to pass that an nneventful
period ensued in their annals, during which the fierce passions and animosi
ties which had animated them were obliterated from their minds. Genera
tion succeeded generation, but the country long continued impoverished
after those truculent chiefs and contending factions had disappeared from
the scene. There remained only the record of the virtuous amongst them
and what they commemorated in their books and traditions. Learning
declined and the learned were few. Friendly intercourse was resumed and
the fire of hatred died out of their hearts ; the flames of war were extin
guished, and party differences were reconciled. A time came when learning
had so declined and its possessors were so scarce, that it was said that one of
the Princes of the Ya'arabeh of Wabl of el-Eostak wanted a Kadhi and was
unable to find one amongst the followers of the true sect, 1 and therefore
selected a Kadhi from the heretics ; of what sect I know not. This person
endeavoured to overturn our sect and establish his own instead. The peo
ple of 'Oman, on hearing of this, sent to that Prince, who thereupon dis
missed the Kadhi and appointed for them one of their own persuasion.
From him the people of el-Rostak received instruction and became steadlast
in the faith.
The majority of the Meliks of 'Oman were wicked and turbulent op
pressors, and they were abetted in their tyranny by the chiefs of the tribes.
Throughout the land, whether in desert or valley, everywhere oppression
was rampant. The people of 'Oman suffered from those evil doers the
severest misery, from which neither the young nor the aged escaped. All
alike were subject to be plundered, or seized and imprisoned, to be scourged
or even slaughtered. And God caused animosity and hatred to grow in
their hearts.
Now the people of 'Oman are endowed with certain qualities, which it is
my hope they may never lose. They are a people of soaring ambition, and oi
haughty spirit ; they brook not the control of any Sultan, and are quick to
resent affront; thev yield only to irresistible force, and without evci aban
doning their purpose. A man of comparatively poor spirit, judged by their
standard, is on a par as regards magnanimity with, an Amir of any other
people. Each individual aims at having the power in his own hands or in the
hands of those he loves. He desires every one to be submissive to him, and
his neighbour has the same ambition. 2 Unfortunately none are worthy of such
things, but those whom God elects, pious, chaste, and blessed persons, who are
not swayed by their desires, nor prone to be led away by blind passions. So
it came to pass that fierce animosities broke out amongst them, and they
fought amongst themselves, plundering, and carrying off captives. In short,
each party neglected no means of injuring their opponents. There were none
to be found, whether dwellers in houses or dwellers in tents, whether