"سجلات تاريخ عُمان" [‎٦] (١١٢/٢٣)

G
Annah of 1 Oman.
The Persians then sent to Malik suing for a truce and demanding a
year's time to evacuate 'Oman and return to their own country. Malik
agreed to this and promised not to molest them unless they recommenced
the war. The Persians thereupon returned to Sohar, and Malik withdrew
to Kalhat.
It is said that the Persians during the period of this truce destroyed a
great many water channels. Suleiman-bin Daud had constructed 10,000
aqueducts in 'Omiin. 18
The Persians then wrote to Dara-bin Dara informing him of the ad
vent of Malik and his followers to 'Oman, and the struggle that had occur
red between him and themselves, how his general the Marzaban had been
slain with many of their companions. Then telling him of their weak and
helpless condition, they asked permission to return to their own country
with their families. When their letter reached the king and he read it, he
was incensed, and burned with a desire to avenge the slaughter of his sol
diers and generals, so he sent for one of the greatest of his Marzabans, and
giving him command of 3,000 of his most renowned warriors and comman
ders, despatched them to the aid of his subjects in 'Oman. They proceeded
first to el-Bahrein and thence to 'Oman. All this while Malik was in igno
rance of what was going on.
When this reinforcement reached the Persians, they commenced pre
parations to renew the war as soon as the period of truce should expire.
W hen Malik heard of the arrival of the succours, he wrote to the Pers
ians informing them that if they did not quit 'Oman, he would march
against them and expel them by force, and seize all their property. But
they, confident in their strength and in the comparative smallness of Malik's
army, returned a defiant and insolent answer. Malik accordingly marched
against them with his whole army and entered their territory. The Pers
ians on their side prepared for battle. When the two armies met, Malik
drew up his army as before, placing his son Honat in command of the right,
and 1 era hid ot the left, he stationing himself with the remainder of his
sons in the centre. A fierce and prolonged battle was fought, in which the
Persians employed their elephants. One huge animal was killed by Honat
and his brother Ma'n-bin Malik. Alter a fierce struggle, the Persians were
routed and fled, pursued by the el-Azd horsemen, who slew an immense
number and made many prisoners. The remnant of the Persian army em
barked in their ships and passed across the sea to Persia. So Malik con
quered all 'Oman and took all the property of the Persians. He made
many of the latter prisoners and kept them a long time in prison, after
which he released them, and caused them to be conveyed to the ships, with
their clothing and provisions, and sent back to Persia. Malik then ruled
over 'Oman and its adjacent districts, and governed it wisely and well. The