'Annals of 'Omān' [‎83] (100/112)

Notes to Boole Fourth.
83
9 fp. 28.) The quotation is from a religious work. It is one of the verses alleged
by the SM'ahs to have been abstracted from the original Koran and suppressed. They
take it to point to the oppressors of 'AH and his descendants.
i o (p. 29.) Kadam, Between Bahla and el-Homra.
» i (p. 29.) Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. el-Nakhr. About 2 hours west of el-Homra.
12 (p. 29.) Takiyeh.
13 (p. 30.) The history of this period is confused and defective, probably because
the standard Arabian works contain no accounts of this portion of 'Oman history. Hence
forward the Caliphs seem to have lost their hold on 'Oman.
14 (p. 31.) The dates are confused and unreliable, and several of the Imams are, as
will be observed, introduced out of their chronological order.
1 5 (p. 31.) The year is not stated.
i 6 (p. 31.) That is, from Mohammed-bin Khanbash to Malik-bin el-Hawari, from
A. D. 1162 to A. D. 1406.
1 1 (p. 31.) The government of at least a portion of 'Oman had fallen after the time
of Mohammed -bin Khanbash into the hands of the Benu-Nebhan, who were descended
from another stock than the Azdites, though also Kahtanito. Their progenitor appears
to have been Nebhan-bin Amr-bin el-Ghauth-bin Taa. The Princes of this family were
never elected to the religious office of Imam, but were called " Maliks," or Lords. They
were strongest in el-Dhahireh, and probably none of them reigned supreme over entire
'Oman. Their power lasted more or less to A. D. 1617, or for nearly 500 years. At the
present day, no clan of 'Oman is poorer or more despised than the Nebaheneh.
J s (p. 31.) At that period Abaka Khan, son of Hulagu Khan, was monarch of Persia,
19 (p. 31.) Kalhat, vide note 5, Book I.
20 (p. 32.) Dhafar. Marco Polo says of Dhafar—" Dufar is a great and noble and
" fine city, * * * The people are Saracens and have a Count for their chief who is
"subject to the Soldan of Aden * * * Much white incense is produced here, and I
" will tell you how it grows. The trees are like small fir trees; these are notched with
" a knife in several places, and from these notches the incense is exuded. Sometimes
« a i S o it flows from the tree without any notch ; this is by reason of the great heat of the
" sun there. * * * This Dhafar is supposed to be the Sephar of Genesis, x. 30."
[Colonel Yule's Marco Polo, pp. 379-80, Vol. II.]
2 i (p. 32.) Dinar, A gold coin weighing 7U barley-corns [Lane].
82 (p. 32.) Owlad el-Reis, or the Riayeseh, a tribe inhabiting a district west of Sohar.
23 (p. 32.) The Malik or Lord.
24 (p. 32.) Seyyid. This term, here occurring for the first time, means,Prince or
Lord or Master or Noble. In 'Oman it is prefixed to noble names as a " handle." At
the present time, the Ruler of 'Oman is styled the Seyyid " par excellence.'
23 (p. 32.) See note 17.
26 (p. 32.) According to Badger, an Azdite.
27 (p. 32.) According to Badger, also an Azdite of the el-Yahmad.
28 (p. 32.) The term employed is el-Shurat, which was applied to the Khanjite
schismatics, because they said, "We have sold ourselves iu obedience to God for Paradise,
when we separated ourselves from the erring Imams." [Lane's Lex., Art. J- )e
singular " Shan,' we have seen applied in a peculiar sense to the Imams, vide note 13 to
Book III. . - .
2 9 (p 33.) The priest el-Khaleyli, the Imam 'Azzan's Samuel in later days, when
wishing to perpetrate a similar spoliation, appealed to this period of 'Oman history as
precedent and justification.