A former slave who had risen to high office under the Imam Al-Mahdi Abbas, Farhan was the governor of Al Luḩayyah in the mid-18th century when a group of Danes visiting Arabia on an “expedition of observation and discovery”[1] sought permission to travel through his territory:
We found him to possess the dignified politeness of a nobleman, the strictest integrity, and the candid benevolence of a true friend to mankind.”[2]Emir Farhan was open-minded and intellectually curious.
As the Europeans he had previously met had been only traders he was surprised to learn the Danes had a doctor, a botanist and an astronomer among their party, and at once suggested they stay some time in his territory to pursue their researches before travelling on to their destination, Mocha, under his protection.
As the Danes had previously met with far more hostile receptions from governors of Arab cities they were impressed with Farhan’s very different approach, and though their schedule did not allow a long stay parted from him after two months with strong regret.
The account of their travels written by expedition member Carsten Niebuhr singles him out affectionately as ”the good Farhan” and mentions his particular interest in the scientific instruments the Danes had brought.