131 
1874.] E. C. Boss —Annals of ‘ Oman—Boole III. 
Sohar emigrated with their property and families to Shiraz and el-Basreh. 
Mohammed-bin Nur meanwhile advanced with his forces and took Jfilfar, 
whence he proceeded to Towwam, which he reached, after some encounters 
had taken place in the sandy wastes, on Wednesday, six days before the end of 
the month el-Moharram, A. H. 280 [A. D. 893] ; and conquered el-Sirr and 
neighbouring districts. He then advanced on Nezwa, from which place 
‘Azzan-bin Temim, finding himself deserted by the people, fled to Semed-el- 
Shan. As soon as Mohammed-bin Nur appeared, Nezwa surrendered to him, 
and he continued his advance on Semed-el-Shan, and encountered ‘Azzan- 
bin T emim, and on Wednesday, five days before the end of Safar of the same 
year, a severe contest occurred, which resulted in the flight of the people of 
‘Oman and the death of ‘Azzan-bin Temim. 
Thus ‘Oman passed out of the hands of its inhabitants. “ It was not 
“ that God had changed His grace which was in them, but they themselves 
“ changed the disposition in their souls by sin.” 11 For they fought 
amongst themselves for power and supremac}?-, each one aiming at having 
the authority in his own hands or in the hands of those he favoured. So 
God delivered them into the power of one more unjust than themselves. 
And since they had become corrupt in their religion, therefore God deprived 
them of their kingdom, and set an enemy over them to rule them. The 
rule of the Ibadhiyeh from their first accession to power until their overthrow 
by Mohammed-bin Nur had lasted one hundred and sixty-three years all 
but a month and twelve days. God knows the truth ! 
Mohammed-bin Nur sent the head of ‘Azzan-bin Temim to the 
Khalifeh at Baghdad, and returned to Nezwa, where he took up his 
residence. Soon after el-Ahi'f-bin Hamharn el-Hinai wrote to the Sheykhs 
of‘Oman and the tribes of all the districts, calling on and exhorting them 
to rise against Mohammed-bin Nur and drive him from ‘Oman. They 
responded to the summons, and he marched against Mohammed-bin Nur 
with a numerous and well ordered force. When the latter heard of this, 
terror seized his heart and he took to flight, and was pursued by el-Ahif 
and his army. The prudent course would have been to avoid a battle, and 
follow leisurely until Mohammed-bin Nur should pass the frontier of 
‘Oman and then to return. But God so willed it for His purposes that 
they marched quickly and overtook him at Damma, and a severe encounter 
took place, in which many were killed and wounded on both sides. The 
contest was going against Mohammed-bin Nur and his followers who were 
on the point of taking to flight, and had sought safety on the sea shore. 
At this juncture a body of troops appeared on the scene mounted by twos 
on camels. These were the advance guard and others of a force of Madhari- 
yeh sent by Abu-‘Obeydeh-bin Mohammed-el Sami to the assistance of 
Mohammed-bin Nur. As soon as they had drawn nigh to the rival armies, 
R 
