'File 27/4 Miscellaneous Trade Reports' [‎172v] (349/702)

showing a decrease of fs. 53,400 over last year’s
figures. This amount includes £s. 146,239 worth of
imports carried by the buggalow Large trading vessel. -borne traffic.
The main imports are rice, coffee and cotton goods
which amounted to £s. 335,069 of the whole total ;
sugar, wheat, flour are also largely imported.
Although all piece goods are shown as imported
from India whence they are shipped to Muscat,
Japan and America are serious competitors in this
trade.
Exports .—Total Exports for the year amounted
to £s. 394,076 as compared with £s. 400,0£0 Iasi
year, showing a decrease of £s. 6,004. This includes
£s. 27,696 worth of exports carried by the buggalcw-
borne traffic as against £s. 41,656 last year.
Dry and wet dates of the value of £s. 100,191
were exported during the year, the share carried by
sailing craft amounts £s. 17,179. The export of wet
dates to the United States of America amounted
to £s. 11,890 and to India £s. 12,186.
Dry fish, specie, tobacco and firewood were also
largely exported though of the last it is not possible
to give any figures. The demand for firewood in
Bahrein and on the Mekran Coast is keen.
Legislation and AdministratioiK —Government is of
the oriental type tempered by Treaty for the benefit
of British Subjects, over w r hom the local authorities
have waived jurisdiction. Government is carried on
by a Council consisting of four Ministers (President
Minister of Finance, Minister of Religious Affairs
and Minister of Justice). Cases against British
subjects are tried 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. and His
Majesty’s Consul, Muscat, on principles of law 7 adopted
from British India. Cases against Muscat subjects
are decided by the Council of Ministers but the
right of Consular representation exists and is exer
cised.
Customs Administration .—Reciprocal Commercial
treaties have been executed by the Rulers of Oman
with Great Britain and France. In accordance with
the terms of these all goods imported into Oman
are subject to an import duty of 5 per cent ad valorem
determined by the price current in the local market.
No export duty is levied but a charge of 5 per
cent is imposed in Muscat and the Coast ports on
all dates and other fruits from the interior.
The Customs revenues are the main source of the
Government’s income.
Transport .—Transport along the Coast is by
sailing vessel and is cheap. Transport inland is
cirried out by pack animals and is difficult, danger
ous and expensive. The rates depend upon the
distance the goods have to be conveyed and the
difficulty of the journey.
No means of development of transport and com
munications exist at present owing*^to the exceedingly
primitive methods of the people of the country.
Natural Resources — Minerals .—As far as is known
there fire no minerals that could be profitably worked.
Agriculture .—Date growing is the only real in
dustry of the country. Limes and mangoes are
also successfully grown, while pomegranates are the
product of the Jebel Akhdhar. Cereals are grow’n
on a small scale and could not be further developed
-owing to the limited quantity of water available.
Population .—The population of Muscat is about
2,000 and that of Muttra about 20,000. The major
ity of the houses in Muscat are empty or are in
ruins. Suris a sailing vessel port with a population
of about 12,000. The difficulty in obtaining water
alone prevents the increase of population there.
The population of Sobar has decreased to 5,000 .
and is mainly concerned in the export of dates,
fruits and firewood.
It is quite impossible to estimate the population
of the interior. The majority of the population are
settled Arabs.
Health .—The climate of Muscat is extremely bad,
the heat being excessive during the greater part of
the year. A damp heat usually prevails but it is
varied by very hot winds in May and June. Owing
to the poor climate and lack of sanitation the public
health is bad, malarial fever being the prevailing
disease. The highest temperature recorded in the
year w^as 110-3 0 and the lowest 63-0 F.
Freight and Shipping.
Steamers .—The figures relating to these matters
are given in the usual form.
The port w r as, with the exception of 2 steamers,
visited onlv by British ships during the year under
report. The British India Steam Navigation Com
pany subsidiary mail steamers visited the port
regularly. 75 steamers entered and cleared the
port during the year representing a total tonnage
of 172,392.
129 Sailing Vessels representing a tonnage of
16,069 entered and cleared the port.
The statement below gives the rate of freight :—
Per Ton.
£ s. d.
Dry Dates to India . • . 1 10 0
Wet „ „ . . • .10 0
Dry Fish „ . . . . 0 18 0
Fresh Fruit ,, . . • .17 0
Dry limes to Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . . 2 14 0
R. G. HINDE, Major, LA.,
His Britannic Majesty's Consul, Muscat.