Page 213 - PERSIAN 4 1890_1899

Part IV.—TRADE STATISTICS for 1893-94.

Tho total trade for the year is returned at $3,775,326 as against $3,387,435
for the preceding year, showing an increase, including import and export of
specie, of $387,891, or excluding specie, of $77,891.
I must again point out that the statistics as furnished by tho Customs
farmer, especially those relating to exports, are approximate only and must
not be taken for more than they are worth.
Excluding specie, of which there is an increase of $120,000, the import
trade from India shows a total falling-off of nearly $60,000 as compared with
the preceding year; this decline is most marked in Bengal rice, cotton, and other
stuffs, and sweet and cocoanut oil; an increase appears in Turkey red and twist,
and a slight increase in jowari and kerosine oil. Out of 88 items of import
from British India, 64 show a decrease, the net decrease being nearly $60,000
as noted above. This is attributed to the decline in tho value of the dollar in
exchange with the rupee, which followed the closing of the Indian mints.
The effects are only beginning to be felt. The greater the difference between
the rupee and bar silver, the more will the import trade of Oman with
British India be liable to decline or to be deflected to other channels. As it is,
there is a marked decrease in the import of Bengal rice of $64,610 and an in­
crease in the import of wheat from Persia of $27,000, which point ominously
to the direction which the trade in food-cereals may he expected to take.
The imports excluding specie from the Persian Gulf and Mekran have
fallen off by $42,500, notwithstanding the increase of $27,000 in Persian
wheat. Muscat would seem to have left off dealing with the Persian Gulf for
mother-of-pearl, as the import in this article has fallen from $50,000 to nil.
The imports from South Arabia and Africa show an increase of $22,000
in mother-of-pearl, and $30,000 in pearls, whilst there is a decrease of $12,000
ia cotton goods.
Imports from the United States, Mauritius and Singapore show a slight in­
crease under the heading box shooks and sugar.
Excluding an increase of $200,000 in specie, the export trade basin-
creased by $152,000, the principal items being dry dates, fish, large and small,
cotton fabrics, fruit, and salt.
The unusually heavy imports and exports of specie, which figure in this
year’s returns, were due to exchange transactions in Bombay, where dollars at
one time were procurable at cheaper rates thau in Oman. Consequently, the
country was drained of rupees for the purchase of dollars ; and when the rupees
were exhausted, an unprecedented run was made on British copper coinage for
remittance to Bombay. This caused much inconvenience and considerable hard­
ship in the country by appreciating the copper coinage with reference to the
dollar, which fell in value atone time from 140 pice to 108 pice.
The customs were farmed to Seth Rattarisi Purshotam for $115,000.

J. HATES SADLER, Major,
H. B. MS8 Political Agent and Consul, Muscat.

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