Page 85 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

OMAN. 43

a new sect, and in time a new religion, as they embraced that schism
which is known under the name of Kharej, or Seceders, but who call
themselves Beazoo, or the Pures; whilst the Ool-Ycsdce and other
tribes have remained strict Soonites.
The Joasmsces arc descended from the inhabitants of Nujd, and called
the Beni Nasir or Gafree ; and the Muskat Arabs from those of Yemen,
and called Beni Yemen, or Beni Ilinavi. The enmity between the
Muskat Arabs and the Joasmees is the remnant of the schism that arose in
the time of Mahomed, and has continued to prevail in Oman to this day.
The face of the whole of Oman is rugged and hilly, but possesses
many fertile valleys, occupied by different tribes, each of whom have
their own castles to retire to in time of danger, or when discontented ;
when the chief calls in his relations and tribe, defends himself as long
as he can, or, if he has the power, plunders his neighbours; hence civil
wars are of frequent occurrence in the province.
Each tribe has its own Shaikh, who elects from the most powerful
tribe one who rules the whole, and who adopts the name of his tribe as
a nation. The succession to the Shaikhship continues hereditary in
this tribe until some other becomes more powerful, or the successor
shows a vicious disposition, or want of capacity, when he is deserted by
all the tribes, and a new family chosen.
The whole coast of Oman was once in the possession of the
Portuguese; they were expelled by the Arabs, and these were, again,
partially conquered by the Persians under Taki Khan, in the reign of
Nadir Shah. The Persians were again driven out by Ahmed bin
Sueed, the Governor of Sohar, on which occasion he was elected Tmaum.
Syud Ahmed attempted to reduce Ras-ool-Khyma to subjection, and
would have succeeded had he not been abandoned by some of his allies,
on whom he most depended, and forced to make a precipitate retreat;
since which period Seer has remained independent. Hostilities, how­
ever, have continued to be carried on between the chiefs of the two
principalities.
The Wahabee Arabs conquered the whole of the principality of Seer,
including Ras-ool-Khyma, reducing the inhabitants to the most abject
submission to their orders. By the compact entered into with the
Wahabee Shaikh on his invasion of Oman, Nunneed bin Nasser of
Zaheera, Azzan of Sohar, and Mahomed bin Nasser, were constituted
Ameers, or territorial lords in their own right, without any dependance
on Muskat.
Nunneed assisted the Wahabee Shaikh in the attack of Sohar, and
Mahomed bin Nasser having also assisted him, with troops and money,
and by stopping the access to reinforcements east of Semay, he deprived
the Imauin of all support, but what he derived from Mukran and the