Page 329 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

YR.vtt 1870-77. 8L
POLITICAL ACIBXCT FOR THE
AND MUSCAT

nwLsitalcJ to bring water from the wells in copper vessels.

The jewellery and gold and silver work of Muscat is mostly done

nnike large profits, as the Arabs generally are too simple and uu-
si.iihistieatcd to comprehend the value of the work done for them. In
tin* interior the gold and silversmiths are Arabs or Baisurs, but
workmanship is much inferior.
Fitherit*.—Fish arc found in enormous quantities all along the
Oman Coast, and form a very important article of consumption, not only
to the coast dwellers, but also to the interior population; large quanti­
ties of salt-fish being prepared at Muscat and other towns for home
consumption and exportation to India, the Mauritius, &c. The fisher-
men arc Arabs, Persians, Bclooch and Soeotraces, but though a successful
and independent race, are looked down on by the Arabs. They are quite
nomadic in their habits. In the pilgrim months many go to Jeddah in
dows to fish, being induced thereto by the high prices there prevailing,
and they usually return with a respectable sum as the fruit of their
lalniur. At another time they spread themselves along the Mckran
Coast salting their takes on the spot, and returning after two or three
months with large supplies. The Soeotraees and Mahras come to Oman
for the autumn, and remain till about January. The nets used arc
of many kinds, but the larger fish and sharks, saw-fish, sword-fish and
rays are taken with a line. In the Batinah the nets arc nearly a
mile long, and form the chief wealth perhaps of a whole village. As in
Aurway the rejected heads of cured fish are given to cattle, but they
are here boiled up with date-stones, remnants of mat-bags, and other
rcfu>e ingredients into a palatable mess.
Trade.—The annexed tabulated statements show the statistics of
tlic trade of Muscat and Muttrah for the past year, 1870-77. It must,
however, be repeated that these returns cannot be altogether relied upon
as correct. The books of the customs* farmer, from whom they are
0 J^Hicd» arc not kept in a way to show the exact quantities of goods
passing through the Custom-house, and it is to bis interest to diminish
»e apparent trade of the put to keep competitors out of the field. The
•gures givon arc undoubtedly much below the actuals, especially of the
imports. The exports may be accepted as fairly correct. No returns
arc oMainahlc from the other ports of His Highness* dominions, where
„ nD r , e ls carried on, such as Soor and Sohar, as the Government is
:ntA n CV^ ,taxcs there. I estimate the valuo of the total import*
nito Oman at about 30 lakhs of rupees. The value of dates alone ex-
' r°m a J 1)01-13 Iast Jear was probably about 20 lakhs. The trade,
townhJif t»• popiJat:io11 °* Muscat are rapidly declining, and the
of the om *a ,D^ ru*DS* is due partly to the general insecurity
it of 1 0wlno to the intestine commotions which have distracted
from JLrT ^car8» ky which trade is paralyzed, and merchants deterred
opcratif.no1 n? 'Co ^or £°°^8 *n large quantities, but more directly to the
oi the Steam Navigation Company carrying the mails which