Coll 20/6 'Muscat: Trade: Annual Reports 1924-' [‎214v] (428/588)

2
Banking.
There are no banks in Muscat. The system
among the merchants of issuing Hundis (drafts) is
in practice and as trade methods are primitive there
are not sufficient inducements for a bank to be
established.
Trade.
The total trade for the year 1928-29 amounted to
£510,120 as against £518,944 of the previous year
showing a decrease of £8,824 or about 1*70 per cent.
Imports by steamers show an increase of £567
whilst imports by sailing vessels a decrease of
£27,309.
Exports show on the whole an improvement over
the figures for last year.
Of the total trade for the year the share of the
sailing craft is £123,576 and that of steamships
£386,544.
Share of Trade.
—
Imports.
Exports.
Total.
Percent
age.
Aden
2,943
836
3,779
•74
Africa
6,481
3,163
9,644
1-89
India
258,589
107,599
366,188
71-80
Ceylon . •
• •
14,007
14,007
2-74
China.
••
2,647
2,647
•52
Persia
16,282
5,655
21,937
4-30
Singapore .
••
1,785
1,785
•35
United Kingdom.
20,710
711
21,421
4-20
United States
America .
of
859
29,800
30,159
5-91
Other Countries .
88,553
88,553
7-55
TOVh
343,917
166,203
510,120
100-00
As will be noticed from the above figures, India
has played a prominent part in the year’s trade.
Imports.
Total Imports for the year amounted to £343,917
as against £370,659 t)f the previous year showing a
decrease of £26,742 or about 7-21 per cent. Of
the total Imports goods worth £242,067 were carried
by the steamships and £101,850 by country craft.
The Import of rice by steamers as well as by
sailing vessels shows a decline. 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 report amounted
to £166,203 of which goods worth £21,726 were
carried by sailing craft and the balance by s^^m-
ships. They show an increase of £17,918 ov^Nst
year’s figures.
Cotton goods locally manufactured were exported
to Aden, Africa and Zanzibar, dry fish to Ceylon
and Waras (ochre) to Aden. This last item is used
for dying clothes by the Arabs.
Muscat manufactures Turbans and Lungis. These
are exported to Zanzibar, Africa and Aden. A
considerable export of these articles passes through
the Post Office and does not appear in these returns.
The Post Office returns for the year under report
show that goods worth £6,330 were thus exported.
The export of Fard dates to the United States of
America amounted to £22,670 as against £10,520
of the previous year or an increase of £12,150. This
is due to the good rains we have had during 1927-28.
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 four
Ministers (President, Minister of Justice, Minister
of Finance and Minister of Religious Affairs). 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 are decided by the
Council of Ministers, but the right of Consular
representation exists and is exercised.
Customs.
Reciprocal commercial treaties have been execut
ed by the ruler of Oman with Great Britain and
France. 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 of the
Government’s income.
Transport.
Transport along the coast is by sailing vessels and
is cheap. Transport inland is carried out by pack