'File 27/4 Miscellaneous Trade Reports' [‎317r] (638/702)

3
A rough fair weather motor track has been con
structed to bwaklm, about 50 miles, from Muscat.
It may be possible to cont.nae tins track to Sur.
A* nsport A tes by C ir.
Natae( o' towns.
No. of miles.
Kite per trip.
About.
Rs.
A.
V.
Muscat to Vi trail
2i
1
8
0
„ „ W i. i- ih .
10
5
0
0
L „ „ GnUUi .
2>
13
0
0
1 „ H.w r
30
13
0
0
w .. „ S akuu .
47
20
0
0
,, Sin ....
30
20
0
0
„ „ Berks
50
30
0
0
„ „ S..iMr
120
80
0
0
„ ,, Kalba
200
100
0
0
Agriculture.
Date growing is the real industry of the country.
Limes and mangoes are also successfully grown
while promegranates are the products of the Jebel
Akhdar. Cereals are grown on a small scale and
-could not be fuithor developed owing to tlie limited
quantity of water. Owing to good rainfall during
the year, efforts were made to cultivate wheat ex
tensively. But unfortunately when the wheat was
in ear parasites and rust destroyed the whole crops
throughout. Cultivation of sugarcane in Jebel
Akhdar and its environs has been successful. Some
of the tribesmen have imported crushing machines
from India for the manufacture of jaggery.
Shipping.
Steamers .—The usual statement showing figures is
attached to this report. The principal steamships
hues which called at Muscat were as follows :—
(1) The British India Steamship Navigation
Company, Ltd.
(2) The Strick Line of Steamers.
(3) The Ellerman and Bucknall Steamship Co.,
Ltd.
{4) The Hansa Line of Steamers.
139 steamers of all nationalities aggregating
402,607 tons entered and cleared the port during
the year ending 31st March 1931. Of these 125
with a total tonnage of 303,695 were under British
flag. 14 German Hansa Line vessels with a total
tonnage of 98,912 entered and cleared the port.
The British India Steam Navigation CoBapany,
Limited, have maintained a weekly mail service both
from Bombay and Basrah. The fast mail service
which was discontinued during the War has not
been resumed since.
Sailing Vessels .—•278 sailing vessels of all national
ities with a total tonnage of 33,422 entered and
cleared the port during the year, of which 254 were
from British India, 16 vessels from ’Iraq and 8 vessels
from Africa with a total tonnage of 31,546, 1,3%
and 480, respectively.
Freight.
Freights ruling during the year were as follows :—
Population.
No regular census of the population of Muscat
and Matrah has ever been taken. It is therefore
not possible to give exact figures. But it has
recently been estimated at 12,580, viz., 4,340 are
in Muscat and 8,240 in Matrah. 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 of Matrah, which has conveniences
and communication with the interior of Oman, is
now fairly Well populated and its trade is much
improved.
Public Health.
The climate of Muscat is somewhat trying, in
Jammer the weather is oppressive in May and June
^5ut July, August and the first half of September
are not unpleasant tempered as they are by cool
monsoon breezes.
The highest temperature recorded in the year was
A4° and the lowest 54‘6°. The total rainfall during
IP year was 4 53 inches.
Per ton.
Rs. a. p. Rs.
To Bombay and Karachi
Dry dates
Wet dates
Dry fish in bundles
Pomegr (mates
Raw wool
Raw cotton .
Cotton piece goods .•
1
4
0 per bag 15
0
10
0 „
box 15 {24 boxes)
1
0
0 „
bag iii
1
0
0 „
bundle.
1
8
0 „
crate.
7
8
0 „
bundle.
3
8
0 „
3
4)
0 „
bale.
To Ceylon :—
Wet dates . . 36 0 0 of 40 s. ft. or 20 cwt.
Dry fish . . 36 0 0 Ditto-
To United States of
America :— £ a. d.
Wet dates in bags
and in boxes . 3 6 6 Ditto.
To London:—
Wet dates in bags
and boxes . . 3 0 0 Ditto.
K. G. ALBAN, Capiuik,
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 Britannic Majesty’s Consul,
Muscat,