Page 412 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XXII.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 373

interests, and frequently setting the authority
of the prince at defiance. Sayyid S’aid has

in a measure remedied this, by granting these
governments as they become vacant to his

own officers, as a reward for military service.
But in a country like Arabia, the life of an
individual is too short, and the difficulties he

has to encounter too great, to enable him to
establish a fixed and lasting principle of

government. Yet this great prince, with his
imperfect means, has done more than could
be expected of him; and had he been backed

by efficient troops, instead of the most indif­
ferent to be found in Arabia, his career would,

in all probability, have been boundless ; but
their want of bravery has occasionally sub­

jected him to severe defeats.
His enlightened policy has greatly in­

creased the commercial wealth and import­
ance of Maskat, and he has more than doubled
the extent of territory which was possessed by

his ancestors on the coast of Africa. Beyond
the general election of the several Chiefs, the

theological discourse which is delivered by
the Imam, and his vow to abstain from enter­
ing on board ships, no other oaths are required,