1874.] * 
E. C. Ross —Annals of ‘Oman.—Book VI. 
155 
“Bedu” or u Hadlir” 3 , whether on the mountain heights or in the sandy 
levels, hut had quaffed the draught of terror, and suffered from the general 
destruction which encompassed religion, property, and life, except those for 
whom God tempered their troubles and whom He saved from the strife by 
His bounteous protection. In this manner, they ceased not to struggle in 
the abysses of desolation, walking in evil ways, until God vouchsafed unto 
them the appearance of his wise servant, the Imam of the Musalmans, Nasir- 
bin Murshid-bin Malik 4 , which occurred as follows. 
It happened that when Malik-bin Abul-‘Arab, who has been mention¬ 
ed in the previous book, was their Sultan, dissensions occurred amongst the 
people of el-Rostak. Those of the Musalmans who were steadfast in the 
faith, consulted with the learned regarding the election of an Imam, to 
govern them in accordance with right and justice, and they deliberated as 
to who was worthy of their choice. At that period, the most respected per¬ 
son amongst them was Khamis-hin Sa‘id el-Slmkasi. Their unanimous 
decision was to elect the illustrious Seyyid [Nasir]. So they went to him 
and asked this of him, exhorting him to rule uprightly. 
The Ima'm Na'sir-bih Murshid. He consented, and was elected 
Imam in the year 1034 A. H. [A. D. 1625], and fixed his residence at 
Kasra, in the district of el-Rostak, and acted justly, and exerted himself to 
uproot ignorance. The tribe el-Yahmad actively supported him, and agreed 
to seize by night the fort in which his cousins had resided since the death 
of his grandfather Malik. After gaining possession of the fort, the Imam 
proceeded to the town of el-Nakhl, in which his uncle Sultan-bin Abul- 
fc Arab was residing, and took that place after a siege of some days. A por¬ 
tion of the inhabitants, however, refused to acknowledge the Imam and 
besieged him in the fort, until he was relieved by a body of the el-Yahmad, 
and his enemies were dispersed, after which he returned to el-Rostak. 
There he received visits from Ahmed-bin Suleiman el-Rueyhf with a party 
of the el-Ruaheh and envoys from Manh-bin Sin an el-'Omeyri, who abode 
some time with him and invited him to Semail and Wadi Beni-Ruaheh. 
To this he assented, and marched accompanied by some of the el-Yahmed 
until he reached Semail, where he left some of his men with Mank-hin Sinan, 
and proceeded on to the Wadi Beni-Ruaheh. As agreed upon with Mani £ , 
he went on thence to Nezwa, attended by the Kadhf Khamis-hin Sa‘id. 
On reaching Izld, many of the inhabitants gave him personal and pecuniary 
assistance, and he took possession of the place, and proceeded towards Nezwa, 
where he was welcomed by the people and entered the town in safety. He 
took up his residence in el-‘Akr, and continued to administer justly for some 
months. The Benu bu-Sa‘id, 5 the chief family of el- Akr, then formed a 
conspiracy in view of ejecting the Imam from the place. The execution of 
this plot was fixed for a Friday, when the Imam went forth to prayers, but 
