Page 326 - PERSIAN 1 1873_1879 Admin Report1_Neat

78 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OP THE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL
besidenct
bad no resource but to abandon it. By the end of tbc year an arrange­
ment was come to by which tranquillity was restored and trade resumed
in the Batinnh, and Sheikh Ilamood was induced to return to El Shar-
kiyoh by the payment of a sum of money.
In December the officiating Political Resident, Colonel Pridcaux*
arrived at Muscat with an invitation from the Viceroy of India to the
Sultan to be present at the Delhi Assemblage on the occasion of the
assumption of the Imperial title by Her Majesty. Ilis Highness Sovyid
Toorkec considered himself unable to present himself, but deputed' his
Minister, Seyyid Said bin Mohamed, with a suitable following, to attend
on his behalf, and the deputation left Muscat accordingly on the
Slh December.
On the 7th December His Highness Seyyid Salim bin Thoweynee,
late Sultan of Muscat, died of small-pox in the fort of Ilydrabad in Sind,
where lie wns detained.
In February 1S77 His Highness Seyyid Toorkee, having reason to
suspect the fidelity of Sheikh Seif bin Ilamood, who had bceu entrusted
with the charge of the fort at Sowcyk, meditated hostile operations to
comjKil him to evacuate it, but the matter was subsequently arranged by
the Sheikh complying with Ilis Highness' summons to come to Muscat.
With the exception of local disturbances in the provinces of El
Sharkiyeh and Oman, the country has since remained comparatively
tranquil.
S/ure trade.—During the year 1S7G one cargo of 80 Abyssinian slaves
i< known to have been lauded in Oman, having escaped the vigilance of
Her Mnjoty’s erui/.ers. The Sultuu was uuablc to punish the Xakhod3,
or to cuu'O the release of any of the slaves.
A1 :*'•!/,—A survey on a large scale lias been made by Captain F. S.
Clayton, It. X., and Navigating Lieutenant Tully, Her Majesty's Ship
JUjIcman, of Kliorel Ilejareh, a spacious lagoon near Itas-cl-Had, which
had not previously been properly surveyed.
Resources and trade.
Production*.—The natural productions and resources of the kingdom
of Oman are considerable but not varied. The principal are the fruits and
fisheries. Of the fruits, by far the most important is the date, which not
only forms one of the staple foods of the inhabitants, but is exported in
Wh a dry and pressed state to an immense extent. Pomegranates and
limes are also exported in great quantities to India, &c. The other fruits
grown arc the mango, poach, apple, fig, guava, sweetlirae, mulberry,
apricot, almond, tamarind, custard-apple, quince, citron, orange, walnut,
grape, jtijuljc, |»apayc, plum and plantain. The cereals are wheat, white
and red, jowarec, bajree, maize and barley, but the cultivation is not ex­
tensive, and seldom or never is there sufficient for the consumption of the
country.. No rice is grown, but sugar-cane is raised in 6mall quantity.
Lucerne is cultivated for the use of cattle. The quantity of cotton pro­
duced is insutlieicnt, and both red and white varieties have to be imported
from Mckran; a small quantity of this is re-exported to Bombay after
being cleaned. Coffee is no longer grown in the country, the cheapness of
the berry from Western ludia having caused" the cultivation to be neg-