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File 234/1917 'Muscat trade reports. (1911-1924)' [‎149r] (306/428)

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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. .

Transcription

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REPORT
*
ON THE
TRADE OF MUSCAT
for the year 1913-14, by Lieutenant-Colonel R.A.E. Benn, C.I.E., His
Britannic Majesty’s Consul, Muscat-
INTRODUCTION.
Muscat is the capital and the principal port of
the Sultanate of Oman, which comprises a por
tion 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 of call for steamers
in Oman, but as the town lies at the end of a j
cove surrounded by huge rocky hills, it has no j
means of communication with the interior. The
neighbouring town of Afatrab, about 2 miles up
the coast, supplies this want, and is the local
centre for trade with the interior.
CURRENCY.
The currency of the country is the Maria
Theresa dollar and the debased copper coin minted
in 1895 to the order of His Highness the Sultan.
Sovereigns and British Indian coins are also
current in Muscat and Matrah. In the interior
these coins are exchanged at a discount.
Trade accounts are kept in Mohamadis and
Gaj, imaginary coins. There are two kinds of
Mohamadis black and 'white. Black 20^ = 1
dollar and white 1U = 1 dollar. The white is
used in wholesale trade accounts and the black
for fruits, vegetables, etc. Most Hundis from
India show their face value in Mohamadis and
not in rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. : —
20 gaj = l mohamadi
11^ mohamadis = I dollar
100 mohamadis= 1 toman 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. .
The rate of exchange between the Maria
Theresa dollar and the rupee varied from
246 *. «* i 1 .
Rs. 145-8-0 (£9-14-0) to Rs. 154-8-0 (£10-6-0)
per 100 dollars, the lowest being in March and
the highest in October.
The following gives the average rates ruling
in the local market in each month for the past
three years :—
Mouth
1911-12.
1912-13.
1913-14.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
April ....
132*
141*
143*
M ay .
137*
141*
149*
June ....
141*
143
150*
July . . . .
143f
145
153*
August .
143*
149
154*
September
143*
147
153*
October . .
140*
15U
154*
November
139*
151*
152*
December
141*
149
147*
January .
141*
153
147*
February
142
147
146*
March . . .
143*
146
146*
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
There are two different kinds of these one
for the Sultan’s Customs, and the other for retail
bazaar use :—
(i) Those used by the Sultan’s Customs
are :—
1 kias • • $6 or 5*937o ozs.
1 Mascat mannd . $144 or 24 kiaa or 8 lbs. 14* ozs.
10 Mascat maunds . 1 farsala.
200 Mascat maunds . 1 bahr.
There is yet another weight also called
“ Bahr ” which is equal to 400 Mascat maunds.
AW

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)' [‎149r] (306/428), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/647, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100070081660.0x00006b> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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