1874.] 
117 
E. C. Boss —Annals of 1 Oman.—Book I. 
Fahm, and being a chief of great renown, well nigh rivalled the latter in 
power. So Malik-bin Falim fearing that mutual jealousy and strife might 
arise between them, demanded his daughter in marriage, and Malik-bin 
Zoheir gave his daughter, but stipulated that her offspring should have 
precedence of all Malik-bin Fahm’s sons by other wives. Malik-bin Fahm 
assented and married her on these conditions. By this marriage he had 
issue Salimah-bin Malik. Malik reigned over ‘Oman for seventy years, 
during which time neither Arab nor Persian opposed his rule. His age was 
120 years. 
It is said that Malik-bin Fahm was slain accidentally by his son Sali- 
mah, 29 in the following manner : It is said that Malik used to require his sons 
to keep guard at night, each in turn with a body selected from Malik’s most 
trusty nobles and followers. Now Salimah was more beloved of his father 
than any of his brothers, and had higher rank and dignity assigned him. 
His father had taught him archery until he excelled in the art. His bro¬ 
thers envied him on account of the preference shown him, and sought to 
lower him in his father’s estimation, but found no opportunity to find fault 
with him. At length, one day some of them approached their father, and 
accused Salimah of leaving his post when on watch and retiring apart to 
sleep. Malik, however, reproved them, and told them he knew that envy 
prompted them to traduce his son Salimah, and that he judged the latter 
by his knowledge of him, so they were forced to withdraw without gaining 
their object. Afterwards, however, misgiving entered Malik’s mind, and 
he resolved to put the charges against his son Salimah to the test. He 
accordingly went forth in disguise and secretly, on a night when it was 
Salimah’s turn to keep guard. Now it was Salimah’s custom to withdraw 
from his comrades and keep watch close to his father’s house. On this 
night he had taken his usual station ; and sleep had overtaken him just at 
the hour his father came out. His mare seeing the form of Malik in the 
distance neighed, on which Salimah started from his sleep in alarm, and saw 
his mare with her ears erected. Now it was the habit of the mare on seeing 
anything approaching to point her ears in the direction of the object, and 
the rider would aim his arrow accordingly. So Salimah discharged his 
arrow between the mare’s ears towards Malik not knowing it was his father. 
Malik heard the sound of the arrow as it left the bow, and called out, “Ho 
not shoot, my son, I am your father.” It was too late, however, and the 
dart pierced the centre of his heart. 
Salimah, after having slain his father, fled to the Persian coast in fear 
of his brothers, and abode at Jashk, where he married a native of the land 
named el-Asfahiyeh. His offspring by this marriage were called Benii-eB 
Asfahiyeh. Salimah afterwards removed to Kerman which he made himself 
master of after a series of adventures, 30 and reigned as king until his death.. 
