File 234/1917 'Muscat trade reports. (1911-1924)' [‎87v] (183/428)

little green fodder obtainable for cattle which on
the coast are fed on a mixture of fishes heads and
date stones cooked together and date baskets with
a small quantity of lucerne grass. Hot. springs
containing sulphur flow from the mountains from
3 to 6 miles from Muttra and are used for the
cultivation of limes. Limes are grown along the
coast line and the lower valleys and form a
considerable export.
Pomegranates are grown on the Jebel Akhdar.
Government,
The Government is oriental in type and auto
cratic in nature, British subjects are by treaty
subject to the jurisdiction of their own Govern
ment and cases are tried by His Majesty s
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 Consul under the Muscat
Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. , 1915, which applies a certain
number of the Indian Codes to British subjects
in Oman and adapts the law in principle to that
prevailing in India.
Cases against Arab subjects are tried in the
capital by the Sultan or his “ Burza ” (consisting
usually of one or more of His Highness's brothers),
and in the coastal towns by the Wali or Governor
appointed by the Sultan.
Commercial morality is practically non-existent
and cases take time to settle if not indefinitely
postponed. His Highness the Sultan is making
efforts to improve this condition of affairs, but is
handicapped by the lack of any system of adminis
tration, the -want of trustworthy officials and the
condition of the interior.
Since 1913 the whole of Oman proper has been
in rebellion against the Sultanate, a rebellion
founded on religious grounds and on inherited
dynastic problems. In the same year the present
Sultan succeeded his father and inherited this
revolution, a condition which he has been unable
to improve upon.
Language,
The language of the country is Arabic.
Hindustani is generally understood and Baluchi
commonly spoken among the numerous Baluchis.
A certain number of persons understand Persian.
Some members of the leading firms understand
English, in which language business can be
transacted.
Customs Administration.
Under the Commercial Treaties with Great
Britain and with France an ad valorem dutv of
5 per cent, is charged on goods, imported into
Oman.
There are no export duties, but a charge of !i«
per cent, is levied in Muscat and the coast ports
on all dates and other fruits brought from the
interior. Pomegranates are charged at special rates
as an impost on the rebel chief of the Jebel
Akhdar, in whose country this fruit is grown.
The Customs Department is under the charge
of a Superintendent, who is a British Indian
subject. The Customs revenues are the main
source of the Sultan's income and they are heavily
charged with the debts which he has incurred in
attempting to quell the rebellion in the interior.
The Customs headquarters are at Muscat,
including Muttra, but there is an important post at
Sur which, were it properly controlled, would add
very considerably to His Highness's revenues.
His control over Sur is, however, tempered with
considerable leniency owing to his want of
sufficient force and thus he loses a great part of
the duty which should be charged. Sur dealing, as
already mentioned, direct with India, Zanzibar
and East Africa has a considerable trade with the
interior of Oman.
Other Customs posts exists at Sib, Barha,
Masna'ah, Khaburah and Sohar, roadsteads, rather
than ports, which serve other parts of the
interior.
No Customs returns are published and such as
are kept are far from reliable. No returns are
kept of exports.
Roads and Communications.
Roads do not exist except for camels and
donkeys which are the two beasts of burden.
Horses are found in certain parts but cannot be
said to be common.. Travel was, even before the
rebellion, unsafe except under a system of tribal
protection known as Kifarat. Owing to the necessity
under which both sides exist, on the one side the
necessity for the sale of dates and pomegranates,
on the other that of obtaining revenue, imports
and exports continue though to a limited degree.
No European trader could at present go
inland.
Total Trade.
As might be expected with the European War,
high freights and the rebellion in the interior,
imports again show a considerable reduction.
In normal years they total in value about
Rs. 42,00,000, excluding arms which are now no
longer imported. The figures in 1913-14 were
swelled by a considerable import of rice as well as
big imports in oil, oilman stores and twist and
yarns. In 1915-16 the imports had fallen to