1874.] 
E. C. Eoss —Annals of ‘ Oman.—Boole VII. 
179 
The Imam Mohammed-bin Na'str-bin ‘Amir el-Gha'firi'. The 
guns of the Fort of Nezwa were accordingly fired, and a proclamation was 
issued announcing the Imamate of Mohammed-bin Nasir and offerino* 
honorable treatment and security to every tribe, whether “ Yemen” or 
“ Nizar,” “ Bedu” or “ Hadhr,” which should enter Nezwa to visit him. 
This was on Saturday, seven days before the expiry of the month of 
el-Moharram, A. IT. 1137 [A. D. 1724.]. The Imam remained at Nezwa to 
lead the prayers on the following Friday, after which he removed with his 
attendants to Yabrin, and, having dismissed his forces, tarried there a 
space. 
Hearing that Mani-bin Khamis el-‘Azizi had attacked el Ghabbi, taken 
its Fort, plundered the bazar, and committed other depredations, he pro¬ 
ceeded to that place, and scaled the Fort wall with only six followers. He 
gained the upper part of the Fort before the garrison were aware of his 
presence, and when they discovered him, they fled in terror, one of Mani‘- 
bin Khamis’s slaves being slain. In this manner he captured the Fort, 
and having appointed a Wall, returned to Yabrin. 
Soon after, Mulienna-bin ‘Adi el-YaTabi with * Amir-bin Suleiman-bin 
Bel‘arab el-Eiyami and Suleiman-bin Himyer-bin ‘All el-YaTabi attacked 
and took the magazine of el-Birkeh. On hearing of this, Mohammed-bin 
Nasir proceeded against them, and sent to the Kadhi Nasir-bin Suleiman 
and the Wall ‘Abdullali-bin Mohammed, desiring him to join him with a 
force from Nezwa at Birkeh. He himself did not go to Nezwa. With the 
few soldiers and attendants he had with him, he attacked the enemy in the 
forenoon and put many to the sword. He then advised them to retire, and 
restore what they had taken from the magazine, but they refused and 
fought against him. They held the Mesjid el-Shari‘eli above el-Birkeh and 
the hill to the last, and broke up the water-course. Mohammed-bin Nasir 
constructed a tower in the Mesjid below el-Shari‘eh el-Birkeh on the lower 
hill. They kept up a fire of matchlocks on either side and one of the 
Maghribi 16 horsemen of Mohammed-bin Nasir’s force was killed, and one 
wounded. He then ordered his men to attack the enemy, who fled in dis¬ 
order, and Nasir-bin Bel‘arab el-Eiyami and ‘All-bin Salih, the chief of 
Kemeh, were made prisoners. This happened before the reinforcement from 
Nezwa had come up. Mohammed then ordered the dates to be conveyed 
to Yabrin, and returned himself to Nezwa, taking up his abode in the mosque 
of el-Ghantak. He had intended to make war on the people of Tenuf, 17 
but God saved them from this, and they met him and made promises that 
they would not act treacherously by him, on which he became reconciled to 
them. He then ordered all who owed allegiance to him in ‘Oman to assem¬ 
ble ; and accordingly, a large number having collected, he marched with them 
from Nezwa purposing to proceed to I)hank to arrange for the return of 
