176 
[No. 2, 
E. C. Ross —Annals of ‘ Oman—Book VII. 
to convey the fresh dates to el-Hazam, and with them he sent the people of 
Wadi Beni-Ghafir and their belongings. He then set out with all his forces 
for the settlements of the el-‘Awamir in el-Sharkiyeh. He was met by the 
el-‘Awamir and the Al-Wahibeh 12 Bedouins and the Benu-Hinah, and a 
fierce battle took place, in which Mohammed-bin Nasir’s followers were 
well nigh put to flight ; but they rallied and stood firm, and eventually 
the Benu-Hinah 13 were put to flight, and a great number of them was slain. 
The pursuit was kept up until they entered the Hujreli of el-‘Akil. 
Mohammed-bin Nasir and his followers returned in triumph to Yabrin, 
accompanied by the Seyyid Seyf-bin Sultan. Mohammed-bin Nasir then 
returned to el-Dhahireh, to recruit his forces, and, being joined by a large 
number, returned to Nezwa. He collected all the people of Nezwa, and 
Izki and Bahia, also the Benu-Riyam, and marched with them to Seikam. 
Thence he sent to summon Safld-bin Haweyd el-Hinawi, and the followers 
who had joined him from el-‘Akir snd el-Ghafat, and, on their refusal to 
submit, besieged them. Sa‘id-bin Haweyd then passed out, and proceeded 
through el-Dhahireh to Sohar, in order to raise men there and at Yankal, 
for the people of the latter place had broken the truce. A large force joined 
him, on which he returned to ‘Amla and drew in his forces. He collected 
many of the Benu-Hinah from Wadi el-‘Ula and all their villages. When 
he reached Felej el- £ Aishi, he meditated an attack on Mohammed-bin Nasir 
and his followers. Safid-bin Haweyd had been away collecting forces for 
seven months and seven days, and Mohammed-bin Nasir, fearing he might 
fall on him unawares, had distributed scouts throughout the districts, and 
these brought him the intelligence of the advance of Sa‘id with a large 
force. Mohammed ordered his troops to intercept him ere he reached the 
district, and they accordingly met the advancing foe at the entrance of el- 
Ghafat. A great battle was fought, in which Safld-bin Haweyd el-Hinawi 
was slain, and amongst those of his adherents who fell was Ghasn-el-‘Alawi, 
chief of Yankal. The total number of Safld’s followers slain was two 
hundred, the remainder dispersed. Mohammed-bin Nasir ordered recitations 
to be pronounced in every district of Balila and Nezwa, and the towns of 
el-Dhahireh to celebrate his victory. 
His followers dragged the corpse of Sa £ id-bin Haweyd to the Fort of 
el-Ghafat, in which were his family, children, and followers, expecting that 
on beholding the sight, they would surrender ; but they refused to do so. 
The siege was therefore continued for two months longer, when the garri¬ 
son, having eaten all their cattle, ran short of provisions. At this time 
Mubarik-bin Sa c id-bin Bedr commanded the forces of Mohammed-bin Nasir, 
who after the battle had returned to Yabrin. So, when their provisions 
were exhausted, and many had been slain, and their property destroyed, 
the garrison were granted terms on condition of their demolishing the Fort. 
