Page 432 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)
P. 432
XXIV.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 393
have retained the others. Se’if was suc
ceeded by Sooltan, Mohammed ben Nasr of
Ghafari, and Se’if, son of Sooltan.
The reign of Se’if was stormy and un
happy. He deviated from those mild prin
ciples of government which had distinguished
the reigns of his predecessors, and not only
oppressed his subjects himself, but permitted
his soldiers to plunder and annoy them. At
the same time he forsook their frugal habits,
addicting himself to wine, and other licen
tious pursuits, and even attempted the
chastity of his subjects’ daughters. His
cousins, the elders of his tribe, reasoned
with him in vain, until, finding the whole
country was thrown into confusion, and that
his subjects were gradually becoming more
disaffected, they at length wrote to Ahmed
ibn S’aid, the chief of Sohar, who bore the
reputation of being the most politic of the
princes of Oman. They stated that it was
their intention to depose Se’if, and elect
Sooltan ibn Murshid, one of the same fa
mily, in his room, and required his sanction
and co-operation. Ahmed replied that he
should in nowise oppose their resolves, add