Page 93 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

54 TRAVELS IN OMAN. [CH.

CHAPTER V.

The Beni-Abu- All—Their origin — Sayyid S'aids ineffectual
efforts to subdue them—Obtains the assistance of British Troops
—Disastrous expedition of Captain Thompson—Bravery of the
Beni-Abu-Ali — Massacre of the British — Gallantry of the
Imam—Expedition from Bombay—Attack upon the Beni-Abu-
'All Fort—Fortitude of their Women—Final defeat and subju­
gation—The Author's reception at their Encampment—Defer­
ence paid to the British name—Hospitality—Oblivion of the
past—Burckhardt—Visit from the young Sheikh—Discourse
upon Women—European Customs—Tombs of the Vanquished
—Contrast between the British and the Bedowin Soldier.

The Beni-Abu-’Ah tribe came originally from

a small district in Nesjd, where a remnant
of them is said still to exist. They accom­

panied those who separated from All’s army
during the struggle with Mowaiyah for the

Caliphate, and continued to follow the Beazi
tenets until the invasion of Abdul Uziz, in

1811, when they became converts to the
Wahhabis faith. From that period they have

been an object of the most deadly hatred to

the other tribes in Oman ; and after Abdul