Page 311 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

TREATY BETWEEN MUSKAT AND FRANCE. 269

about the state of the market; and they shall enjoy the same privileges
which are enjoyed (by the vessels) of the most favoured nations.

Article XI.
No vessel shall be prohibited from importing into or exporting from
the territories of the Sultan of Muskat any kind of merchandize. The
trade shall be perfectly free in the said territories, subject to the above-
mentioned duty, and to no other. The French shall be at liberty to buy
and sell from whomsoever and to whomsoever they choose; but they
shall not trade in the articles of ivory and gum copal on that part of the
East Coast of Africa from the port of Tailgate, situated in 5J degrees of
south latitude, to the port of Culva, lying in 9 degrees south of the
equator, both ports inclusive. But if the English or Americans, or any
other Christian nation, should carry on this trade, the French shall, in
like manner, be at liberty to do so.
Article XIT.
If any disputes should arise in the dominions of the Sultan of Muskat
as to the value of goods which shall be imported by French merchants,
and on which the duty of five per cent, is to be levied, the Custom-master,
or other person acting on the part of the Sultan of Muskat, shall, when
practicable, receive one-twentieth part of the goods, and the merchant
shall then be subject to no further demand on account of customs on
the remaining goods, in any part of the dominions of the Sultan of
Muskat to which he may transport them. But if the Custom-master
should object to levy the duty in the manner aforesaid, by taking
one-twentieth part of the goods, or if the goods should not admit of
being so divided, then the point in dispute shall be referred to two
competent persons, one chosen by the Custom-master, and the other
by the merchant, who shall make a valuation of the goods; and if they
shall differ in opinion, they shall appoint an arbitrator, whose decision
shall be final, and the duty shall be levied according to the value thus
established.
Article XIII.
It shall not be lawful for any French merchant to expose his goods
for sale for the space of three days after the arrival of such goods, unless
the Custom-master and the merchant shall have agreed as to the value
of such goods. If the Custom-master shall not within three days have
accepted one of the two modes proposed for ascertaining the value of
the goods, the authorities on the part of the Sultan of Muskat, on an
intimation being made to them on the subject, shall compel the Custom-
xnaster to choose one of the two modes for the levy of the duty.
Article XIV.
If it shall happen that either the King of the French or the Sultan of

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