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File 234/1917 'Muscat trade reports. (1911-1924)' [‎68r] (144/428)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (210 folios). It was created in 13 Apr 1912-25 Mar 1925. 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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71FPD
Report on the trade of Muscat for the year 1918-19 by
R. E. L. Wingate, Esq., I.C.S., His Britannic Majesty’s
Consul, Muscat.
Introduction .—Muscat is the capital and the chief port of the Sultanate
of Oman, which comprises a portion of the south eastern coast of Arabia up to
the entrance to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Muscat is the only port cf call for steamers in Oman, but as the town lies
at the end of a c/tye surrounded by precipitous rocky hills, it has no means of
communciation with the interior. Goods destined for the interior have to be
taken by small boats to the adjoining town of Muttra about 2 miles up the
coast which also has a good anchorage, though more exposed than that of
Muscat.
Currency. The currency of the country is the Maria Theresa dollar and
the copper com minted in 1895 to the order of His Highness the Sultan. In
Muscat and Muttra sovereigns, Indian currency notes and Indian rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
are generally accepted. r
The Maria Theresa dollar fluctuates iu value considerably being affected
by the world price of silver and also by the local demand in the date season,
and by the state of the Bahrein pearl market.
Trade accounts are kept in Mahomadis and Gaj imaginary coins. Ther®
are two kinds of Mahomadis—black and white. Black 20^ = 1 dollar and white
ni=l dollar. The white is used in holesale trade accounts and the black for
fruits, vegetables, etc. Most hundis from India show their face value in
Mahomadis and not in rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
20 Gaj=l Mahomadi.
31^ Mahomadis=l dollar.
100 Mahomadis-=1 Toman 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. .
The average monthly rate of exchange between the Maria Theresa dollar
and the rupee varied from Rs. 206 to Rs. 254 per 100 dollars, the lowest being
m November 1918 and the highest in March 1919.
The following gives the average rates ruling in the local market in each
month during the year under report Rs. 15=£1 :
April 1918
• • •
...
a • a
Rb.
212
per 100 dollars.
May 1918
...
• • •
a a 4
225
ditto.
June 1918
• ••
• O
aa a
2±7
ditto.
July 1918
• • •
...
249
ditto.'
August 1918
...
...
252
ditto.
September 1918
...
. •«
284
ditto.
October 1918
...
...
212
ditto.
November 1918
• • •
...
...
206
ditto.
December 1918
...
...
215
r
ditto.
January 1919 ...
A #
...
232
ditto.
February 1919
• ••
...
...
232
ditto.
March 1919
• ••
...
aa*
254
ditto.

About this item

Content

The volume contains copies of the annual trade report on the trade and commerce of Muscat [Muscat and Oman] for the years 1911-12 to 1923-24 inclusive (except 1917-18 and 1920-21). The reports were prepared 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. and HBM's Consul, Muscat, and forwarded to the Government of India.

Each report includes an introduction giving general information concerning the state, and summaries of imports and exports; statistical tables of imports and exports, subdivided into principal commodities, and countries imported from/exported to; and returns of shipping. Principal imports include arms and ammunition, cereals, paints and colours, precious stones and metals, provisions, textile fabrics, tobacco, and miscellaneous; principal exports include cereals, fish, fruits, paints and colours, provisions, cotton goods, tobacco, and miscellaneous. The reports show some manuscript annotations, and the volume also contains some minutes and correspondence.

The file includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (210 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 234 (Muscat Trade Reports) consists of one volume only.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 207; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 234/1917 'Muscat trade reports. (1911-1924)' [‎68r] (144/428), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/647, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100070081659.0x000091> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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