Political Correspondence - Muscat and Oman Affairs [‎19r] (37/370)

3
of the farmer of the Custom revenue, who is supposed to see that there may be
no monopoly.
Imports .—Rice from Calcutta by ships, from April to June.. Cotton goods
from Bombay by bi-monthly Mail Steamer. Sugar from Mauritius, a vessel or
two, in August, or March. Cocoanut, rafters, and cloves from Zanzibar in
May. Corn from Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by country craft, as also silk, wool, opium and
nuts, such as almonds, &c., from Bushire and Bunder Abbas, from September to
March. Native crafts take from Bombay, rice, sugar, oil, condiments, and
different articles of luxury during the fair season. American vessels bring
supplies of ammunition, fire-arms, and some articles of household furniture and
ornaments. Yemen crafts bring coffee and a kind of coarse sugar.
Exports .—Dates from August to January. Salt brought from Khism and
Hormuz to Calcutta usually as ballast. Mauritius vessels take salt-fish, corn,
and dates in return ; and American dates only of the variety called furd.
Yemen crafts take dates of three or four varieties, halwas and fruit to some
extent to Calcutta, Bombay, and Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Shark fins for China; fish-
maws, cotton and mother of pearl shell to small extent, for European markets
via Bombay.
Revenue .—Muscat yields a Custom revenue of 100,000 German Crowns, on
which the present Government has to depend. But under the late Sultan, Syed
Toweynee, Bunder Abbas contributed 35,000, Gwadur 5,000, Chabar 2,000, and
Zanzibar 40,000, which made up an aggregate sum of 184,000 German Crowns,
a sum by no means adequate for the requirement. Consequently since the
separation of Zanzibar the Muscat treasury has been bordering on insolvency, so
as to augur an uncertain future.
Houses .—Are built in a manner to adapt them to the severity of summer
and autumnal heats, and to seclude women from the public gaze. Both of these
ends have been amply attained, in the castle-like form employed, borrowed no
doubt from Graiza. Each has a courtyard in the centre, and partitions raised
one upon another for two stories, all round, and terminate above into an open
terrace. Materials employed are sandstone and mud, the latter mixed with
fragments of old mortar, gravel and other rubbish, makes up a pretty durable
fabric ; but those built with sandstone and mortar are the strongest. The
interior is plastered with Gutch, a material that forms an exceedingly smooth
surface, that improves by time, so as to require no washing over. Parts, subject
to action of water, are plastered with Sarooj, a material absolutely proof against
water. Both ot these are worthy of attention in connection with public build
ings in Bombay. The Gutch 1 believe to be crude plaster of Paris, it being
similar in its properties may be utilised for ornamental devices, as in Muscat.
The Sarooj is a combination of Peroxide of Iron with lime and other matter.
Had it not been for the apathy of owners there would have been fewer of the
delapidated houses than those now seen throughout crumbling into dust, and at
this stage only the owners awake to the necessity of doing something. The nar
rowness of the street has been taken advantage of by Bunnyas to cover them
with mats and bamboos, to exclude the hot weather sun. Cesspools for refuse
render every house unpleasant, and unhealthy, and often diffuse the adjacent
streets with offensive smells.
Muscat Harbour.—Or Cove, as it is called, possesses a good anchorage, and
lots of water for vessels of any draught, but it being exposed to the North-
Westerly winds, that bring in heavy rolling seas, makes the situation of vessels
precarious during the winter and spring. The entrance is guarded by Ports,
called the Gulali, the Capitanie, and two Seeras. They were huilt by the
Portuguese and are so placed as to direct a cross fire, which makes Muscat
invulnerable in front, as the mountain passes do behind.
Inhabitants .—From the continual concourse of foreigners, Muscat may be
deemed the very Alexandria of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The permanent residents
4