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
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