"سجلات تاريخ عُمان" [‎٥‎٨] (١١٢/٧٥)

58
Annals of l Omdn.
inhabitants were not guiltless of treason towards the Imam Muhenna. The
latter had gone to Felej el-Bazil in the districts of el-Jow, hut as soon as
he heard this intelligence, he returned to el-Rostak and spared no effort to
meet the emergency. He called on the people of 'Oman to aid him against
the enemy, hut they did not respond to his call and abandoned him to his
fate. The people of el-Rostak had besieged him in the Fort. Ya'rab,
hearing this, came from Maskat to el-Rostak, and summoned Muhenna to
come forth from the Fort, offering him safe-conduct for himself and follow
ers and property. Muhenna reflected on his position : abandoned as he
was and unaided by any of the people of 'Oman, he was evidently helpless,
and accordingly accepted the proffered terms and came down from the Fort.
By this act, his Imamate came to an end. Notwithstanding the promises
of security, he was immediately seized, fettered, and placed in the stocks,
with one of his companions. Soon after, some of his enemies' servants came,
and slaughtered them both as they lay bound and helpless. Ya'rab then
assumed the reins of government, but did not aspire to the Imamate, which
office pertained to his cousin Seyf-bin Sultan, contenting himself with acting
as regent for the latter, who was too young to assume the Government
himself. All the Forts of 'Oman surrendered to them, and all the tribes
made their submission. This was in the year 1133 A. H. [A. D. 1720.]
Matters went on in this way for a year, after which the Kadhi 'Adi-bin
Suleiman el-Thahali proposed to Ya'rab that he should repent of all his mis
deeds, his oppression of the Musahnans, and his rebellion against Mohenna-
bin Sultan and seizure of the Government of the Musalmans. In case of
his doing this, Ya'rab would be absolved of the guilt of rebellion, and it
would not be necessary for him to make restitution for what he had de
stroyed ; for compensation is not incumbent on one who has repented and
received absolution. \ a'rab followed these counsels, on which he was made
Imam in the year 1134 A. H. [A. D. 1721.]
The Ima'm Ya'eab-bin Bel'aeab . He then received charge of the
Government in his own name and the various forts of 'Oman were surren
dered to him. After remaining a few days at el-Rostak, he proceeded to
Nezwa, which he entered on the 29th of el-Sha'ban of the same year. The
people of el-Rostak were not content that Ya'rab should be Imam, and
displayed a preference for the Sayyid Seyf-bin Sultan. They constantly
wrote to Bel'arab-bin Nagir, the maternal uncle of the Seyyid Seyf-bin Sultan,
who was at Nezwa with the Imam Ya'rab. They ceased not to urge Bel'arab
until he left Nezwa, on the 7th of Showwal of that year, and proceeded to
Bilad-Seyt, where he succeeded in binding the Benu-Hinah to support
him by engaging to release them from the restrictions placed on them by
the Imam Nasir-bin Murshid in the matters of building, carrying arms,
&c. He also gave them rich presents. They accordingly took him to el-