OMAN is the S.E. region of Arabia, from Ras ul-Hud on the S. to Zobara or Shama') island on the N.E. It is divided into two principalities,— Rastag„ with Muscat as its capital, and Seer or Julfar, with Ras-ul-Khyma as its chief town. It has from time immemorial been held by two Arab tribes,—the Beth Yemen or Beni Hinavi and the Beni Nasir or Beni Ghafri. Oman was originally peopled from Persia, but the Arab tribe ul-Yesdee, from 'Nejd, early conquered it. They accepted Islam, and ultimately adopted the Sunni form of religion. The Joasmi are descendants of the Nejd Arabs. Its valleys are occupied by different tribes, each with its own sheikh. The Wahabee Arabs conquered Seer, including Ras-ul-Khyma. The Hinavi and Ghafri are the two Arab tribes who have been most prominent in Oman. The Yarabi and Syudi, to the last of which the family of the present sultans belong, are Voth branches of the Hinavi. The Joasmi are descended from the Ghafri. Oman, it is said, was colonized four centuries D.C. by the Hinavi tribe, led by Malik bin Fakbam, of the province of Nejd. The Ghafri entered Oman after the Hinavi were settled, but the Hinavi continued dominant almost continuously until nearly the close of the 18th century. The tribes and their fighting men are,
east and south of Muscat,— Hurth, . . . . 2,000 Jeneba, . . . . 10,000 Massakeeah, . . 4,000 Beni Jaabe, Indahi, Beni Boo Hasan, . 18,000 Sidbi, and Reh Hajrieen, • . . . 1,000 bewi, . . . . 10,000 Habbea, . . . . 700 Huddabei, . . . 500 Beth Rawahiyah, . 500 Jenadie, . . . . 2,000 Beni Riam, 3,000 to 3,500 Beni Aamr, . . . 1,200 Beni Wahibah, . 1,200 Jeal-i-Saad, . . . 15,000 Hishm, . . . . 700 Wadi Maaweel tribes, 2,000 Beni Boo Ali, 3,000 to 3,500 Zahnah tribes, , 12,000 The Bane Noainzi tribe could furnish 20,000 effective men ; they are mostly shepherds, and live S.W. of Boraimi, with a small number at Ayman, near Shargah.
The Beni Katab, within two days of Boraimi, 8000.
Beni Kaab is a branch of the Noaimi, 4000 ; they dwell in Dhabirah near Obra, one day to the eastward of it.
Durua, 20,000, in Hajar, near Jabal-ul-Akhdar, half a day to the north of this place.
Ali 1Vahibah, 30,000, 12 miles S. of Rastag. Beni Mohair, 1000, one day inland, south of Shargah.
Matarish,. 500 men, nine miles south of Boo Haile, inland.