File 234/1917 'Muscat trade reports. (1911-1924)' [‎171v] (351/428)

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Matrah is, if anything, worse than Muscat. The
interior of Oman is mountainous and the inhabi
tants, for the most part, are poor. The population
is estimated at about 5,00,000 of whom a con
siderable portion is nomadic.
Public health .—Although Muscat is frequently
described as one of the hottest towns in the world,
it cannot be said to be unhealthy. During the
year 19T2-13, the highest temperature recorded
was 114° fahrenheit and the lowest 64°. The
high temperatures are due to the hot winds,
which at certain times in the summer months,
and generally only for a few hours at night,
blow from the Arabian deserts and barren rocks
round Muscat. For the greater part of the
summer, owing to the high state of humidity of
the atmosphere in combination with a high
temperature the climate is very trying. From
November till the middle or end of March, the
whether is distinctly pleasant but fails to be
bracing as the temperature seldom falls below 60°
Fahrenheit. The rainfall averages 4 inches only
and it is due to this fact that Muscat may be
considered a fairly healthy tropical port, provided
ordinary precautions are taken to purify the
drinking water by boiling or filtration, and to
protect oneself from mosquitoes which, during the
winter months, are numerous in the town and the
cause of a considerable amount of*malaria amongst
natives. There were no cases of cholera, small
pox or plague during the year, and only a few
cases of dysentery and enteric fever, amongst the
native population.
Agriculture .—The majority of the settled in
habitants live by agriculture of which date
cultivation is the principal form, but the moun
tainous and arid nature of the country does not
lend itself to remunerative agriculture and the
quarrelsome nature of the tribesmen does not
encourage modern methods.
Government .—The Government of Oman is
absolute and somewhat primitive. There are no
law courts in the European sense, cases are
usually decided by the Sultan and his Walis
(Governors) in accordance with Mahomedan law
or local usage. Commercial law does not exist
and claims against Arab subjects are difficult to
settle.
Language. The language of the country is
Arabic; many persons in Muscat and Matrah
speak Persian, Baluchi and Hindustani. Business
communications can, however, be sent in English.
The post and telegraph offices at Muscat (the only
ones in Oman) have been established by the
Indian Government.
Customs Administration .—The customs are
managed by His Highness the Sultan through a
paid Superintendent, a British Indian subject.
An import duty, not exceeding 5 per cent, ad
valorem,^ is levied by His Highness and this can
be paid in kind when there is any dispute about
the value. No export duty of any kind is
leviable or paid by merchants except an internal
transit duty of 5 per cent, on dates, which is
recovered from the owners of the produce. The
landing arrangements have remained the same as
m the last year in the hands of the company of
our Arab merchants. Complaints of pilferino*
however, are still heard occasionally.
. Roads and communications .—The remarks made
in the report for 1909-10 still hold good. No
wheeled traffic exists in the countrv locnm.i-
being by means of camels and donkeys by ^
and country craft by sea. The interior is usuall
in an unsettled condition and travelling witwl 7
large escort is dangerous. a ,
Total trade.—The total volume of trade don^
during the year under report amounted to R,'* 1
1,14,75,426, as against Rs. 1,03,75,606 of th
previous year, showing a nett increase J
Rs. 10,99,820 as against the increase of
3,92,856 of the last year or lO G 0 / •j’jj S
figures include statistics of the buggalow Large trading vessel. bom 6
trade amounting to Rs. 4,62,908 as again R f
Rs. 7,47,116 of the previous year showing
decline of Rs. 2,78,208 or 37°/ 0 . This decline
gives an entirely wrong impression, unless it i 8
remembered that Rs. 3,45,000 of “bar silver”
which was smuggled into India through the Cuch
States last year, did not, this year, appear in the
returns on the export side, as smuggling had
apparently ceased to pay. Legitimate trade by
means of sailing vessels rose from Rs. 4 02 116
last year to Rs. 4,22,908 this year showing the
slight increase of Rs. 22,800 approximately
or 5%. J
Share of trade .—The following shows the
percentage of the total trade taken by each
country. It will be noticed that India as usual
stood first and had handled almost half the trade
Belgium stands second in rank and United
Kingdom third.
Name of country.
Import.
Export.
Total.
Percent-
age.
Aden .
4,42,779
73,421
5,16,200
4-41
Arab coast
52,800
8,02,596
8,55,396
7'4o
Belgium
15,15,398
...
15,15,398
13-20
Prance
9,994
...
9,994
•10
Germany .
1,09,393
26,000
1,35,393
118
India
32,11,578
24,31,227
56,42,805
49-20
Persia . .
45,110
3,91,671
4,36,781
381
Port Said
1,901
...
1,901
-03
Russia ,
715
...
715
•01
Sweden .
34,668
...
34,668
■30
Turkey in Asia .
52,821
88,021
1,40,812
1-24
United Kingdom
13,99,818
75
13,99,893
12-21
U. S. America ,
76,288
4,99,610
5,75,898
5-04
Zanzibar .
...
1,78,148
1,78,148
•27
Other countries .
...
31,394
31,394
1-55
Total
69,53,263
45,22,163
1,14,75,426
100-0
Imports. (Steam ships).—The total value of im
ports for the year amounted to Rs. 69,58,263 as
against Rs. 60,19,800 of the previous year show
ing a respectable increase of over 9 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf.
(Rs. 9,32,463) or 10 per cent. A glance at the im
port returns will show that legitimate import trade
(from which we exclude “ bar silver ” and “arms
and ammunition ") has made a fair advance of 9
per cent approximately, increases in certain items
being counterbalanced by decreases in others.
Thus “arms and ammunition^ show an increase