172 
E. C. Ross —Annals of ‘ Oman—Boole VII. 
[No. 2, 
Sahib el-‘Anbur and many of bis people were slain and tlie remainder routed. 
Mohammed-bin Nasir then returned to Felej el-Sharat, and, on the following 
day, entered Felej el-Madra, where Befarab-bin Nasir met him as a sup¬ 
plicant. Mohammed agreed to make peace on condition of his surrendering 
the Fort of el-Rostak, and all other Forts in his possession. 
They accordingly proceeded together to the Fort of el-Rostak. Now 
BeFarab meditated treachery towards Mohammed-bin Nasir, but the latter, 
shrewd and cautious, declined to enter except with his men, and when all 
had entered, he entered also. As soon as they were in, his troops commenced 
to pillage the town, and they abducted so many children that they were sold 
into foreign countries. This treatment was the requital of their evil doing 
and of their treatment of the Kadhi of the Musalmans ‘Adi-bin Suleiman. 
“ Verily God will not change His grace ichich is in men , until they change 
the disposition in their souls hy sinV The death of YaTab-bin Bel‘arab 
occurred whilst Mohammed-bin Nasir was at el-Rostak, thirteen days before 
the expiry of Jumadi el-TJkhra, A. H. 1135. [A. D. 1723], The people of 
Nezwa, however, fearing the enemy would attack them, concealed the fact 
for nearly fifty days. 
Mohammed-bin Nasir ordered Bel‘arab to be imprisoned in fetters, 
after he had commanded him to surrender all the Forts in his possession. 
There remained only Maskat and Birkeh 8 in the hands of the Benu-Hinah. 
Mohammed‘bin Nasir remained at el-Rostak and proclaimed Seyf-bin Sultan 
Imam. 
The people of el-Rostak fled to the hills and valleys. I have heard that 
in a cavern, in the direction of the district of Mahalil, were found the bodies 
of about one hundred women and children, who had perished of thirst, afraid 
to return to el-Rostak lest they should be carried off and sold into slavery. 
Three days after he took el-Rostak, Mohammed-bin Nasir was joined 
by a re-inforcement of about fifteen hundred men of the Benu-Koleyb and 
Benu-Ka‘b, armed with matchlocks and spears. There also arrived Rahmeh- 
bin Matr-bin Rahmeli el-Hawali with about 5000 “ Bedu” and “ Hadhr,” 
amongst whom were some who did not understand Arabic 9 and were unable 
to distinguish friend from foe. 
Khalf-bin Mubarik, known as el-Kasir [or the Dwarf], a native of el- 
Ghashb, who was not at el-Rostak during the fighting, took possession of 
the Forts of Birkeh and Maskat, having with him the Benu-Hinah. 
Mohammed-bin Nasir sent ‘All-bin Mohammed el-Kharusi as Wall of the 
Fort of Barka, but he was slain and his followers returned to Mohammed- 
bin Nasir at el-Rostak. The latter thereupon directed the whole of his 
forces on Barka. So Rahmeh-bin Matr el-Hawali marched with his con¬ 
tingent ; also Iiamzah-bin Hammad el-Koleybi with his men, and Ahmed- 
bin ‘Ali el-Ghafiri with the force contributed by Mohammed-bin Nasir. 
