1874.] 
E. C. Ross— Annals of ‘ Oman.—Boole VII. 
169 
el-‘Anbhr entered the Fort of Nezwa, and firing a salute from all the o-uns 
proclaimed Seyf-bin Sultan Imam. 
The Imam Seye-bih Stjlta'n. All the forts of ‘Oman were surren¬ 
dered to him, and all the tribes and towns submitted to his authority. 
Matters went on in this wise for two months all but three days, when it 
was the will of God to bring to pass what He had foreseen would befall the 
people of ‘Oman, on account of their fickle and changeable behaviour. For 
God does not send vicissitudes on a people until they are untrue to 
themselves. In the trials Fie sends, he who is steadfast in his religion is 
distinguished from the backslider and hypocrite. God said those words, 
“ Do men imagine it shall be sufficient for them to say , ‘ we believe ,’ while they 
be not proved ? We proved heretofore those who were before them ; for God 
will surely know those who are sincere , and He will surely know the liars.” 3 
God then foresaw what was predestined to occur, that the actions of 
all men should come to light, and the evildoer suffer for his misdeeds, and 
the obedient be fortified, each being requited according to his good or evil 
deeds, like as pure gold is tested by fire. It has been said too, “ By trial 
is a man honored or despised.” 
When it was settled that Bel‘arab-bin Nasir should administer the 
Government as regent, and that Seyf-bin Sultan was Imam, the various 
tribes and chiefs came to offer their congratulations on this. Bebarab-bin 
Nasir on this occasion let fall threats against certain tribes, especially the 
Benu-Gliafir 4 and the people of Bahia. It is said when Moliammed-bin Nasir - 
bin ‘Amir el-Ghafiri came with a party of his tribe, the Seyyid BeFarab 
uttered menaces against them, on which Mohammed-bin Nasir retired deeply 
offended, and entered into correspondence with Ya‘rab-bin Bebarab and the 
people of Bahia, urging them to rise in revolt. He went also himself to the 
Bedouins of el-Dhafrah, the Benu-NaFm, Benu-Katab, and the rest. 
Bebarab on his part sent to invite the chiefs of Nezwa to join him, and 
a large number of them did so, and were received with honor, and desired 
to give their allegiance to Seyf-bin Sultan. He then sent a detachment 5 
under his brother Suleiman-bin Nasir with orders to proceed by Wadi- 
Semail, and bring Ya‘rab to el-Rostak. He ordered the Nezwa people to 
accompany this force, but they ceased not to ask the chiefs of el-Rostak to 
intercede with him to excuse them from this duty until he consented. The 
detachment proceeded as far as Fark, where they passed the night, and the 
people of Nezwa sent them food and refreshments. Suddenly, they heard the 
firing of cannon from the Fort of Nezwa, and enquiring what had happened, 
were informed that Ya‘rab-bin Bebarab had entered the Fort. Thereupon 
they returned to Izki, where Suleiman-bin Nasir seized the Fort and 
remained in the town. BeFarab-bin Nasir had meanwhile despatched a 
second detachment against ^Ya‘rab by way of el-Dhahireh, but on their 
