ABSTRACT
Tribalism has been a dominant force in Omani politics since the beginning of Arab migrations into the area nearly two millenia ago. Tribal political power in the twentieth century has been in a continual state of flux, reaching its apex in the 1920 Agreement of al-Sīb and then entering a terminal decline after the events of 1970. The Banī Hinā have been in the forefront of tribal politics since they gave their name to the Hināwī faction. Part of this position derives from the large size of the tribe but of greater importance is its strategic location at the northern rim of the Oman province. Clearly, Aḥmad's machinations were the best possible course for a tamīma to chart at the twilight of the traditional tribal political system. The political declines of the Bani Riyām and the Ḥirth exhibit a number of similarities. The tribe has a reputation for truculence and xenophobia, which extended to the Sultanate and Imamate alike.
