Page 237 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

RESIDENCY AND MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR TIIE YEAR 1900-1001. 85

Part IV.—TRADE REPORT FOR MASKAT, 1000-1901.

The trado statistics for the year as furnished by Ilis Highness the Sultan do General,
not call for much commont, and it must be understood, as usual, that as there
is no oxport duty and vessels do not take manifests from this port, much reliance
cannot be placed on the export figures.
The total trade for the year is returned at 4,725,776 dollars, as against
4,134,020 dollars of last year, showing an increase of 691,756 dollars.
The increase is entirely on the import side, which has increased from Imports.
2,600,720 dollars to 3,365,776 dollars.
The chief items which have contributed to this result are:—
1. Anns.—The figures under this head have reverted to about the same
point as they stood at in 1897-98, showing that the trade has recovered the
depression and scare caused by the seizure of the Baluchistan.
2. Cereals from Persia.—No doubt due to famine in India and conse­
quent decrease in quantity of grain usually exported from India*
3. Coffee.— 1 Probably the increment is simply due to the fact that
4. Piece-goods.— j owing to a prosperous date season more money was
spent in luxuries.
There is again a decrease in the exports, hut, as pointed out above, little Exports,
reliance can be placed upon these figures. The value of the export trade
stands at 1,359,893, as against 1,533,300 dollars.
The items mainly accounting for the decline are:—
1. Dried Fish.—Most of this eventually goes to China, and the upheaval
there probably accounts for the falling off in this item.
2. Limes and fruit.—The season was a very bad one for limes and fruit
generally, which were of poor quality and scarce.
3. Colton Fabric to Zanzibar.—There was formerly a brisk trade with
Zanzibar in a certain line of piece-goods embroidered in Maskat, and popular
in Zanzibar; This class of goods is said to have now gone out of fashion, having
been ousted by a cheaper article manufactured in Europe.

P. Z. COX, Captain9
Mis Britannic Ilajesty'8 Consul and
Political Agent9 Maskat.