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'File 27/4 Miscellaneous Trade Reports' [252r] (508/702)
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
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Natural Resources.
In accordance with the terms of those, 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
at the Coast ports on all dates and other fruits from
the interior. .
The Customs revenue is the main source oi the
Government’s income.
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.
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.
The Local Government is now constructing a road
to link up Mattrah with the Batineh Coast ports.
A road from Muscat to Mattrah is also under
construction.
1
Agriculture.
Date growing is the only real industry of the
country. Limes and mangoes are also successfullv
vrown, 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. But it has
recently been estimated at 12,580, viz., 4,340 are in
Muscat and 8,240 in Mattrah. Owing to the dearth
of trade the Indian trading community which
inhabited 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 con
veniences and communication with the interior of
Oman, is now fairly well populated and its trade is
much improved as compared to previous years.
The climate of Muscat is extremely unhealthy and
the heat is excessive, especially at night. The
highest temperature recorded in the year was 112-8°
and the lowest 66-0° F.
Shipping.
Steamers .—The usual statement showing figures
is attached to this report. 117 steamships of all
nationalities entered and cleared the port during
the year, representing a net tonnage of 401,089 and
64 sailing vessels with a tonnage of 8,445. Of the
117 steamships which entered the port 4 were from
the United States of America, 5 from the United
Kingdom and 108 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 .—statement bslow gives the average
rates of freight:—
Dry dates
Wet dates in mat bag
Wet dates in boxes .
Dry fish to Colombo (per
ton of e.ft.) .
Pomegranates
Dry limes to
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Wet dates to United States
of America (per ton of
40 c.ft.)
Per ton.
Rs. A. P. Rs. a. P.
14 0 per bag 16 4 0
0 14 0 „ 17 8o
0 10 0 25 0 0
:.. 25 0 0
1 12 0 20 0 0
10 0 0 70 0 0
52 8 0
G. P. MURPHY, Major,
His Britannic Majesty's Consul, Muscat.
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 View the complete information for this record
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'File 27/4 Miscellaneous Trade Reports' [252r] (508/702), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/79, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100039328817.0x00006d> [accessed 13 May 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/R/15/5/79
- Title
- 'File 27/4 Miscellaneous Trade Reports'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:348v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence