'دليل الخليج، مواد سياسية وتاريخية، منطقة مسقط، ١٨٧٢-١٩٠٣' [‎١‎١‎٤] (١٣٨/١١٦)

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otherwise on arrival at Maskat. "Arthi" tax of 2 per cent, at Khabura
abolished (1-3).
1887.
Ross sujrgested revision of Commercial treaty with Maskat in view of new
Treaty with Zanzibar (1-9). Draft sent up modelled on new Zanzibar treaty.
No material departure from spirit of existing treaty. Sultan not yet consulted
(5-11).
1888.
Article approved by Government of India to debar Sultan from prohibiting
export or import of any article and from levying export duties without consent of
British Government. No necessity for an article to exempt from duty goods
re-exported by land. No objection to clause for enhanced taxation of alcohol.
Restriction on importation on arms and ammunition might stand over (15-8).
1889.
Masqat customs resold to Damodar & Co., for $111,000 or $1,000 more than
year before (13-12).
1890.
Treaty signed by Faisal and Ross at Mastat on 18th April (4-9). Govern
ment of India recommended ratification to Secretary of State in spite of mistake
by Ross who acted without powers of plenipotentiary (8-9). Foreign Office
desired fresh treaty with certain modifications, including condition as to duration
(11-12).
1891.
Fresh treaty signed by Faisal and Ross at Maskat on 19th March. After
12 years and on 12 months' notice by either party treaty to be subject to
revision by plenipotentiaries appointed on both sides. Sent to Secretary of
State (18-8). Ratified by Queen at Balmoral on 29th September. Treaty
should be terminable, not revisable, after 12 years on 12 months' notice. Sec
retary of State desired amendment to be made in this respect in protocol of
exchange (lt)-10).
1892.
Ratifications by Sultan and exchange carried out at Maskat on 20th Feb
ruary (27-2). Natal desired to be included in, Cape of Good Hope to be
excluded from, operation of new treaty (8-9).
1893.
Canada acceded to Treaty (15-4).
• • 1894.
After closing of Indian mints to free coinage of silver, Austrian dollar at
Maskat fell relatively to rupee and heavy export of rupees and pice set in.
Dollar (before closing of mints-136 to 140 pice) fell on 20th March 1894 to
108 pice. Searcity of pice caused hardship to poorer classes at Maskat. Poli
tical Agent discountenanced Saltan's idea of prohibiting export of pice. .On
22nd dollar rose to 118 pice (30-3). Copper coinage of Oman was of 3 sorts,
Indian, Zanzibar and German East African: Indian pice slightly more value-
able than others (4-5). Dollar alone was current in interior. All mercantile
transactions in a practically fictitious coin, (Persian, long out of circulation)
called " Muhammadi,' , at 11| Muhammndis to dollar. Sultan's revenue in
dollars except subsidy, which in rupees. Sultan powerless to influence rate of
exchange, which was fixed by traders on advices from Aden and Bombay.
Austrian mints had lately supplied 45,000 new dollars to Maskat. Indian
rupees could not always purchase 64 Indian pice, sometimes only 68. Twelve