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E. C. Ross —Annals of ‘ Oman.—Book VI. 
[No. 2, 
they had experienced from civil wars, it came to pass that an uneventful 
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, hut 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 hooks 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 Wahl of el-Rostak 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 steadfast 
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 of 
haughty spirit; they brook not the control of any Sultan, and are quick to 
resent affront; they yield only to irresistible force, and without ever 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 
