'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎43] (80/733)

43
OMAN.
a new sect, and in time a new religion, as they embraced that schism
which is known under the name of Kharej, or Seceders, but who ca
Themselves Bcazoo, or the Pures; whilst the Ool-Yesdee and other
tribes have remained strict Soonites. , _ , ,, ,
The Joasmsees are descended from the inhabitants of Nujd, ^called
the Beni Nasir or Gafrce ; and the Muskat Arabs from those of Yemen
and called Beni Yemen, or Bcui Hinavi. The enmity between the
Muskat Arabs and the Joasmees is the remnant of the schism that arose i
" e of Mahomed, and has continued to P-^Hn Oman to is day^
The face of the whole of Oman is rugged and hilly, but po.-ess
mnnv fertile vallevs, occupied by different tribes, each of whom have
their own Castles to' retire'to in time of danger, or when d ;
when the chief calls in his relations and tribe, defends himself a- 1 g
as he can, or, if he has the power, plunders his neighbours; hence civi
wars are of frequent occurrence in the province.
Each tribe has its own Shaikh, who elects from the -ost powerfu
tribe one who rules the whole, and who adopts the name of his tube as
a nation The succession to the Shaikhship contmues hereditary
this tribe until some other becomes more powerful, or the successor
shows a vicious disposition, or want of capacity, when ne is deserted y
all the tribes, and a new family chosen.
The whole coast of Oman was once in the possession of the
Portuguese; they were expelled by the Arabs, and these were, aga ,
partially cohered by the Persians under Taki Khan m tlm reigu^of
Nadir Shah. The Persians were again driven out ?
Sueed the Governor of Sohar, on which occasion he was elected Tmaurm
Syud Ahmed attempted to reduce Ras-ool-Khyma to saojccUon, iw
would have succeeded had he not been abandoned by SOme 0
on whom he most depended, and forced to make a ® ^ 'J '
since which period Seer has remained independent. Ho.. . ,
ever, have continued to be carried on between the chiefs of the two
IffSSS- i»f. —-
Lcl.di.s Kas-ool-Kliyma, ..J.olns »»
submission to their orders. By the compact entered into ^ ith the
Wahabee Shaikh on his invasion of 0man ' Nunneed ^tted
Zaheera, Azzan of Sohar, and Mahonicd bin Nasser, were constituted
Ameers, or territorial lords in their own right, without any dependance
^Nunneed assisted the Wahabee Shaikh in the attack of Sohar, and
Mahomed bin Nasser having also assisted him, ^ tr ° 0 P s ^^"""Jed
and bv stopping the access to reinforcements east of Semay, he depiived
the ImauTof'all support, but what he derived from Mukran and the