'A Collection of Treaties and Engagements relating to the Persian Gulf Shaikhdoms and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman in force up to the End of 1953' [‎34v] (70/92)

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them. This having been done, the bankrupt ^
from his creditors, and he shall not ^ a ' | i y Afterwards acquire be considered
uss." b »"« O" 1 ""
at the time when he became insolvent has been given up.
A rticle 9.
If a subject of the Sultan of Maskat owes a debt to a
or his deputies shall urge the former to pay the claim of the latter I ^
the French Consul shall enjoin a Frenchman to pay a debt due by him to a subject
of the Sultan of Maskat.
A rticle 10.
No duty exceeding five per cent, shall be levied on goods imported by French
vessels into the dominions of Syud Sueed bin Sultan, the Sultan of as a . f
a vessel of other nations imports any goods into the territories of the Sultan of
Maskat, and pays less duty than five per cent., the same duty only shall be evied
on similar goods imported by a French vessel into the said territories. A rench
vessel after she has paid the duty of five per cent., shall not be subject to any
other charges, such as anchorage, pilotages, etc., nor shall any charge be ftiade
on that part of the cargo which may remain on board a French vessel, but n the
vessel shall sjo to another part of the dominions of the Sultan of Maskat, duty shall
be levied at five per cent. The above-mentioned duty haying once been paid,
the goods may be sold, by wholesale or retail, without paying any further duty.
No charge whatever shall be made on French vessels which may enter any of the
ports of the Sultan of Maskat for the purpose of refitting, or for refreshments, or
to inquire about the state of the market; and they shall enjoy the same privileges
which are enjoyed (by the vessels) of the most favoured nations.
A rticle 11.
No vessel shall be prohibited from importing into, or exporting from the
territories of the Sultan of Maskat any kind of merchandise. The trade shall be
perfectly free in the said territories, subject to the above-mentioned duty and to
no other. The French shall be at liberty to buy and sell from whomsoever and
to whomsoever they choose; but they shall not trade in the articles of ivory and
gum copal on that part of the East Coast of Africa from the port of Tongate,
situated in 5^ degrees of south latitude, to the port of Culva, lying in 9 degrees
south of the equator, both ports inclusive. But if the English or Americans, or
any other Christian nation, should carry on this trade, the French shall, in like
manner, be at liberty to do so.
A rticle 12.
If any disputes should arise in the dominions of the Sultan of Maskat as to
the value of goods which shall be imported by French merchants, and on which
the duty of five per cent, is to be levied, the Custom Master, or other person acting
on the part of the Sultan of Maskat, shall, when practicable, receive one-twentieth
part of the goods, and the merchant shall then be subject to no further demand
on account of customs on the remaining goods in any part of the dominions of
the Sultan of Maskat to which he may transport them. But if the Custom Master
should object to levy the duty in the manner aforesaid, by taking one-twentieth
part of the goods, or if the goods should not admit of being so divided, then the
point in dispute shall be referred to two competent persons, one chosen by the
Custom Master, and the other by the merchant, who shall make a valuation of
the goods; and if they shall differ in opinion, they shall appoint an arbitrator, whose
decision shall be final, and the duty shall be levied according to the value thus
established.
A rticle 13.
It shall not be lawful for any French merchant to expose his goods for sale
for the space of three days after the arrival of such goods, unless the Custom
Master and the merchant shall have agreed as to the value of such goods. If the
Custom Master shall not within three days have accepted one of the two modes