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'File 27/4 Miscellaneous Trade Reports' [‎316v] (637/702)

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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. .

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2
t
Banking.
There are no banka in Muscat. The system among
the merchants of issuing hundifi (drafts) is- in practice
and as trade methods are primitive there are no
sufficient inducements for a Bank to be established.
Trade.
The total volume of trade for the year 1930-31
amounted to £415,275. as against £459,446 of the
previous year showing a decrease of £44,171.
Imports by steamers as well as by sailing vessels
show a decrease of £34,817 as compared with the
previous year.
Exports by steamers as well as by sailing vessels
show a decrease of £9,354 as compared with the pre
vious year.
Of the total trade for the year the share of the
sailing vessels is £123,104 and that of the steamers
£292,171.
Share of Trade.
Percent-
CiMtntrif#.
Import).
Kxport.
Total.
age.
£
185,032
£
83,048
£
268.080
64-70
Persi<\
33,908
7,419
41,327
9-95
United Kingdom
10,219
741
16.960
4-08
Afrii’i*
13,288
*,♦88
17,751
4-27
Aden
1,082
312
1,394
0-34
United States
of
73
12,424
12,497
3 09
America.
<i*ruiaay .
5,787
5,787
1 33
Singapore .
340
340
0 08
Ceylon
14,828
14,828
3-57
China
3.435
3,435
0-82
Other Countries. .
32,276
32,270.
7-77
Total
282.478
132,797
415,275.
100-00
As will be seen from the above figures India has
played a prominent part in the year’s trade.
Imports.
Total imports for the year amounted to £282,478
as against £317,295 of the previous year showing a
decrease of £34,817. Of the total imports goods
worth £170,200 were carried by steamships and
£112,278 by sailing vessels.
The import of rice by steamers as well as by
sailing vessels shows an increase. The bulk of the
rice imported and appearing in these returns came
from Karachi. It is cheaper than Calcutta rice
and is consumed by the poorer classes both in Muscat
and in the interior.
Exports.
Total exports for the year under review amounted
to £132-,797. of which goods worth £10,826 were
carried by sailing vessels and the balance by steam
ships. They show a decrease of £9,354 from the
previous year’s figures.
Cotton goods locally manufactured were exported
to Aden, India, Zanzibar and Africa : dry fish to
Ceylon.
Muscat manufactures—turbans and lungis. TherW
are exported to Zanzibar, Africa and Aden. A con
siderable export of these articles pass through tiA
post office and does not appear in these return®
The Post Office returns for the year under report
show that goods worth £4,250 were thus exported.
Legislation.
The Government is of the oriental type tempered
by treaty for the benefit of British subjects over
whom the local authorities have no jurisdiction.
The Government is carried on by a Council of 4
Ministers (President, Minister of Justice, Minister of
Finance and Minister of Religious Adairs). Cases
against British subjects are tried by the Political
Agent and His Britannic Majesty’s Consul, Muscat,
on principles of law adopted from British India.
Cases against Muscat Subjects aie decided by the
Council of Ministers, but the right of Consular repre
sentation exists and is exercised.
Customs.
Reciprocal commercial treaties have been executed
by the Ruler of Oman with Great Britain, United
States of America and France. In accrodance 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 at the Coast
ports on all dates and other fruits from the interior.
The Customs revenue is the main source of the
Government’s income.
Transport.
Transport along the coast is by sailing vessels
and is ckea^. Transport inland is carried out by
pack animals and is difficult, dangerous and expen
sive. The rates depend upon the distance the
goods have to be conveyed and the difficulty of the
journey.
Communications by car has been opened up witli
the Batinah Coast through the construction of sr
motor road between Muscat and Matrah, and its
extension some 30 miles beyond Matrah. Cars can
now run some 200 miles up the Batinah Coast to
Kalba, and a motor bus runs daily to Sib, some 'M
miiea from 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' [‎316v] (637/702), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/79, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100039328818.0x000026> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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