OMA 
Here are alfo lead and a al mines. nae are i hone 
only 
fects in religion, a acer eed one another as here- 
tics. The fubje&ts of the Imam follow one Muffulman doc- 
tor, and thofe of ihe Scheichs another. The Priaaa pof- 
Singjibar ; but the moft important and beft known 
the doininions of this Imam is Majfcat, which fee 
out his feanty revenue, the Imam does not limite difdain to 
deal in trade. e keeps four fhips of .war, and a number 
of {mall sae ae in time of peace, he employs in the 
eonveyan 
Africa, Ghee he ftill eeiteiles Kiloa and Sinsjibar. Some 
other fhips are kept to guard the coaft, which is done fo 
negligently or timidly, that pirates venture even into the 
road of Mafcat. The inhabitants of Oman, although not 
fond of fea- fights, are neverthelefs the beft marimers jn all 
rabia. ey have feveral good harbours, and employ 
abite 
but being haraffed by Sareglent neighbours, they at length 
fought refuge in the dominions of the Imam of Om 
iebuhr, 
OMAR L., in pik i the fecond of the caliphs or fuc- 
ceffors of Ma met, was diitingutfhed, while in a private 
ve of juftice, and his zeal for the prophet’s 
wing initance has been given, 
againit him by the prophet, appealed from him to Omar, 
eld in great refpe& for his in- 
clove down the 
ities in 634, ucceeded to the 
office of caliph, and he obtained at the fame time the title of 
“© Commander of the Faithful,’’ which became that of the 
fucceeding caliphs. One of the firft a€ts of Omar was to 
the immediate confequence of this victory. 
defended, but the befieged having no profpeét of fuccour, 
entered upon a treaty of capitulation. One of the articles 
agreed upon was, that in coniideration of the dignity of this 
IO 
of goods, chiefly to and from the eaftern coaftof ru 
OMA 
aa ae the obje& of veneration to Mahometans, as well as 
ians and Jews, the caliph fhould come and take pof- 
feffion at itin perfon. Omar agreed to the propofal, gait his 
journey has been thus defcribed : mounted upon a forrel-co- 
loured camel, in a tattered habit of eie-cloth. he carried with 
him his provifion in two bags, confifting of fodden grain and 
fruits, together with a leathern fack filled with water, anda 
wooden he halted to make a repaft, he per- 
mitted any of his flender train to partake with him 
from the fame difh. 
the offices of his religion, and durin Y 
juftice to all applicants. In fe veral inftances, he corrected 
e laxity of morals which was io bata am 
verts, efpecia yi in aay eases cafe 
falem he was m 
et 
o 
udted with gre a reverence vate thecamp. Hethere pub- 
licly prec to the troops, and rigoroufly ebae many 
luxurious indulgencies which ha 
m were fecured in their lives, properties, 
and the free exercife of thei ir religious ceremonies, but at the 
verfed mo t freely 
wou id ever after have egined the 
made choice of the {cite of Solomon’s 
y his See es was a ae which he faid gave him 
as much pleafure as the conquetft of the holy ree 
regulated the government of Syria, and dire¢te 
dertake the reduction of Egypt, the caliph eee to Mcdina, 
ntioch were next reduced by the 
the river Tigris, and a the city of Ma 
cient Ctefiphon. Syria was at length copie {ubdued, 
an 
This event, fays the hiftorian, gave ccca- 
fion to one of a moft remarkable i inc: :dents connected with 
the name of 
the caliph to hanes his pleafure concerning the famous 
Alexandrian on an an{wer was returned, commanding 
its _deftru “for,” faid the caliph, ‘* if the books 
the Koran). , they were 
Under the reign of Om 
Khorafan, and other aot oriental regions, were reduced 
to obedience to the Mahometan fceptre. The days of this 
caliph were, however, cut fhort by violence, for in the 
‘eleventh ycar cf his reign he received a ftroke from the 
dagger of a Perfian flave, exafperated by a decifion againit 
him refpeGting his tribute, which, in the fpace cf three 
da 
ys, 
