Page 62 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

IL] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 23

on exports. Although this does not sound
very imposing when contrasted with the

ports of India or Europe, it is very consider­

able for Arabia, the imports being chiefly
cloth and corn; and, indeed, the amount ex­

ceeds that of any other town in the country,
Jiddah excepted.

The principal articles which are brought
to, and afterwards exported from Maskat,

and on which no duty is levied, are coffee
and pearls. In the conveyance of the former

eight or ten large, and double that number of
smaller vessels, trade between Yemen and

Maskat: they make but one voyage during

the year. Some of these vessels are of two
hundred and fifty tons, and upwards.

Freighted with dates, Persian tobacco, car­
pets, and generally filled with Persian pil­

grims, they proceed along the Arabian coast,
and up the Red Sea, to Jiddah, where they

land their pilgrims; and such of the crew who
are desirous of doing so, proceed with them

to the Hadj at Mecca. There they probably
remain one or two months, according as the

period may serve for the return of the pil­

grims ; but, after leaving that port, they