Page 677 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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GULP OF PERSIA. 633

that coast from Jdsk to OhUrbarori, the Coast of Milk ran, the islands of
Kishm and Ormus, Kamttleer, Builder Abbas, and Mlnah or Minoo,
on the Coast of Persia, are under his government.
The whole of the male population in his territory are about eight
hundred thousand : one-third of these are most probably slaves. 'The
chiefs in his own dominions are very turbulent, and it is not often he
can get any revenue from places off the coast;—even, these during his
expeditions against Mombassa have been in Open rebellion, particularly
Sohar, Suik, and Burka. The chief of the latter place actually
seized his son and nephew, whom he had left in charge of the Govern­
ment ; and there are several of his own near relations particularly who
are his greatest enemies.
As he has no children by his wife, it is generally thought some of his
near relations will succeed him in Arabia* and his sons will be settled
on the island of Zanzibar, which is of late the Imaum’s favourite resi­
dence, and on which he is forming plantations of sugar, cofFee, and
indigo, and with so much success that it promises fair to be one of the
most valuable islands on this side the Cape of Good Hope.
The Imaum keeps up at Muskat, and in his Various forts, about fifteen
hundred Beloochees : these are all the soldiers who receive pay ;—-his
subjects, as in all Arab countries, are bound to follow him to war, but*
like the highlanders of old, it is only when their own immediate chief
orders them.
The total of the Imaum*s revenue is said to be near seven lakhs of
German crowns, but one lakh may be allowed for short of collection;
Muskat, Muttra, Zanzibar, and the slave trade, are his only certain
sources of revenue, and they may be estimated as follows:—1
German Crowns.
Muskat, external, by customs< <.............. ................ 180,000
Muttra, ditto ditto ................................... 60,000
Muskat and Muttra, internal«. .............................. 20,000
Zanzibar Island ..................................... . 220,000
Slave Trade.................. <......................... 4 4 80,000
Average annual receipts from other places, about 60,000

Total.. *, German Crowns 610,000
As far as Zanzibar goes, the revenue is every year improving.- The
Imaum has been frequently at war, and with Varied success, with the
Bahreinees, Mdmbas, and the pirates. Himself and tribe are a brave
race, but the generality of his subjects are arrant cowards; so much
so as to make it a proverb with the Arabs—“ As great a coward as a
M^katee.*’ There is little more to add than that the Imaum has Treaties