Page 392 - PERSIAN 2B 1883_1890_Neat

96 ADMINISTRATION RETORT OP THE PER8IAN GULP POLITICAL

PART IV.

TRADE.
The accompanying returns furnished by the Customs farmer show a marked decrease in the
amount of both Exports and Imports for the past official year as compared with those rendered for
1884-85. The principal falling off in the Exports is in that of dates owing to the American
market having been over-stocked the, previous year, and I think also possibly to competition
by the Busrah market in the supply of dates suitable for American consumption. The Imports
were naturally affected by this falling off in the date market, and the failures in 1883 of
several large houses in Bombay and Zanzibar, with which Muscat firms had business connec­
tions, have also, I am given to understand, not yet been got over. The Muscat customs were
farmed for the past year by a banian merchant for §110,000 (one lakh and ten thousand
dollars).
E. Mockler, Lieutenant-Colonel,
H. B. M*s Political dgent and Consul, Muscat.