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'File 27/4 Miscellaneous Trade Reports' [‎236r] (476/702)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (347 folios). It was created in 12 Apr 1904-11 Jan 1933. 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

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Transport.
Transport along the coast is by sailing vessel and
is cheap. Transport inland is carried out by pack
animals and is difficult, dangerous 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
munication exist at present owing to the exceedingly
primitive methods of the people of the country.
Agriculture.
Date growing is the only real industry of the
country. Limes and Mangoes are also successfully
grown while pomegranates are the product of the
Jebel Akhdhar. Cereals are grown on a small scale
and could not be further developed owing to the
limited quantity of water available. Inadequate
rainfall in Oman for several years past has been the
cause of ruin of many date gardens ; all wells have
become dry and brackish.
Population.
No regular census of the population of Muscat and
Mattrah has ever been taken. It is therefore not
possible to give correct figures. Owing to the dearth
of trade the Indian trading community which in
habited the town of Muscat and handled 95 per cent,
of the trade have disappeared and almost all their
business premises are empty and in ruins. The
second port, Mattrah, which has conveniences and
communication with the interior of Oman, is now
fairly well populated and its trade is much improved
as compared to previous years.
Natural Resources.
The Anglo-Persian Oil Company Limited have
carried out a preliminary survey in the Muscat
Territory during the year but the prospects of finding
mineral resources in paying quantities appear to be
very poor.
Public Health.
The climate of Muscat is extremely unhealthy and
the heat is excessive, especially at night. The
highest temperature recorded in the year was 111*8
and the lowest 70*2° F.
Shipping.
Steamers .—The usual statement showing figures
is attached to this report. 119 steamships of all
nationalities entered and cleared the port during the
year representing a net tonnage of 407,076 and 77
sailing vessels with a tonnage of 8,813*77. Of the
119 steamships which entered the port 4 were from
the United States of America, 4 from the United
Kingdom, 1 from Sweden and 110 from India.
The British India Steam Navigation Company
Limited have maintained a weekly slow mail service
both from Bombay and Basra. The fast mail service
which was discontinued during the war has not been
resumed since.
Freights .—The statement below gives the average
rates of freight:—
Per
ton.
Rs.
A.
P.
Rs.
A .
p.
Dry dates ....
1
8
0 Per bag.
19
8
0
Wet dates in mat bag .
1
0
0
20
0
0
Wet dates in boxes
0
10
0
25
0
0
Dry tish to Colombo (per ton
of 40 c.ft.)
30
0
0
Pomegranates
1
12
0
20
0
0
Dry limes to Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
10
0
0
70
0
0
Wet dates to United States
of America (per ton of 40
c.ft.) . . . .
45
0
0
G. P. MURPHY, Major,
His Britannic Majesty's Consul, Muscat,
~ * W' ™

About this item

Content

This volume relates to the trade reports of various British agencies and consulates in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The first folio of the volume contains a list of contents that is not entirely accurate. The volume does begin with a report entitled 'Report on the Trade of Oman, Bahrein [ sic ], and Arab Ports in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ', which is dated 12 April 1904; however, the remainder of the volume contains only the following trade reports:

  • trade reports for Bahrain for the financial years of 1904-1905, 1913-1914, 1916-1917, 1917-1918 and 1919-1920;
  • trade reports for Muscat for 1913-1914, 1918-1919, 1919-1920, 1921-1922 and up to and including 1931-1932.

Aside from these reports the volume consists of brief letters and memoranda between 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. , Kuwait, and his corresponding officers in the Gulf, which serve as evidence that the trade reports for the places listed in the contents were received 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. , even though only the Bahrain and Muscat reports mentioned above are present.

Each report relating to Bahrain and Muscat provides a summary of the year's trade. Appended to each report are tables of statistics that contain details of imports and exports (i.e. quantities and values of goods) and shipping returns, not only for the year in question but also for the two preceding financial years.

Extent and format
1 volume (347 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 349; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'File 27/4 Miscellaneous Trade Reports' [‎236r] (476/702), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/79, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100039328817.0x00004d> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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