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'Report on the Administration of the Bushire Residency including that of the Muscat Political Agency, with Reports on Trade for 1873-74.' [40v] (80/92)
The record is made up of 46 folios. It was created in 1874. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
report on trade of the
Muscat being entirely cut off from the interior by the hills sur
rounding it its trade is inseparably connected with that of the neigh
bouring town of Muttra, distant about two miles by sea, where there
is a good anchorage for country craft. It is here the caravans from the
interior concentrate, and where the Arabs chiefly obtain their requirements
in exchange for produce. The khojas and petty dealers mostly dwell
in Muttra, but the wealthy and influential Hindoo merchants, who carry
on, or control the principal commercial operations, reside in Muscat.
About ten square rigged vessels trading with India and Persian
Gulf ports are owned in Muscat besides country craft. A good part of
the trade is carried in the British India Steam Navigation Company's
line of mail steamers.
The exports of Muscat are exceeded by the imports. These are
rice, piece goods, metals, sugar, coffee, &c., &c. The Bengal famine
has exercised a considerable influence on the market, the importation of
rice this year having been reduced thereby to about one-third of the
usual quantity.
The exports are dates, pressed and dry, grain, salt fish, salt,
shark fins, cotton, pearls, &c., &c. Dates are the principal production of
Oman, and as they form one of the staple foods of the people the annual
consumption of the country in addition to the quantity exported is enor
mous.
Tlie manufactures of Oman are almost confined to textile fabrics
and pottery. The chief seat of the former industry is the province of
El Batinah whence the cloth is exported chiefly to Zanzibar and Yemen.
The potteries are at Nezwa, £1 Rostak, Muttra, &c., &c., but are not of
much importance.
The customs farm is still in the hands of the same Hindoo firm
that has held it for the last 200 years. The amount paid to the Sultan
for the farm for the past 12 months was 1,20,000 Dollars. This, how
ever, includes not only the customs duties properly so called, but also
transit dues on produce from the interior, petty monopolies, &c. There
are six branches or stations of the Muscat Custom House.
There is no duty on exports. The tariff on imports is 5 per cent.
ad valorem. Transhipment duties 5 per cent. Dates are charged
Rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
1-8 to 2-8 per camel load.
Wharfage and weighing half anna per package.
The exchange during the past year has ranged from
Rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
208 to
Rupees
Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
224 per 100 Dollars.
The accompanying Tables show the approximate values of exports
and imports and the average tonnage of vessels. It is impossible to
obtain correct returns of the trade of this port.
(Sd.) S. B. Miles, Major,
11. B. M.'s Acting Foltl. Agent Sf Consul, Muscat.
About this item
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Report on the Administration of the Bushire Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. including that of the Muscat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , with Reports on Trade for 1873-74 , printed at the Foreign Department Press, Calcutta, 1874.
The report is split into two sections and further into subsections. The first section relates to the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at Bushire, the second to the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Muscat.
The first section on Bushire consists of three sub-sections:
- An administration report by the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Charles Ross, that gives an update on political and administrative matters for various places and sheikhdoms in the region, as well as notes on weather, medical matters, and the slave trade (folios 2-6);
- A trade report, also written by Ross, that includes notes on the various ports, the main commodities, transport, and customs (folios 6-9);
- Twenty-four tables of trade statistics (A-X) (folios 9-38).
The second section on Muscat consists of two sub-sections:
- An administration report written by the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Major Samuel Barrett Miles, which gives a political and administrative update on the country, including notes on slave traffic and trade (folios 38-40);
- Six tables of trade statistics (A-F) (folios 41-46).
- Extent and format
- 46 folios
- Arrangement
The report is arranged in two sections: the first relating to the Bushire Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , the second the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Muscat.
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'Report on the Administration of the Bushire Residency including that of the Muscat Political Agency, with Reports on Trade for 1873-74.' [40v] (80/92), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/V/10/680, ff 1-46, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023882947.0x000057> [accessed 25 April 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/V/10/680, ff 1-46
- Title
- 'Report on the Administration of the Bushire Residency including that of the Muscat Political Agency, with Reports on Trade for 1873-74.'
- Pages
- 1r:46v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence