Page 374 - PERSIAN 5 1905_1911

74 ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULF POLITICAL RESIDENCY

np^ to a limit of 400,000 and to pay for them at the rate of R132 for every 100
On May 8th, the Government of India intimated that they were unable
to accept the Resident’s new proposal, since it would amount to the purchase
hv the Government of India, of a certain amount of bullion at a price
largely in excess of its market value.
Arm truffle. Quantity of imports.—The following table shows the number of cases of
arms and ammunition imported into Maskat by ships Hying British and
German flags respectively between 1st April and 31st December 1908 :—

NoMnnR of cabks.
Sliipn.
Amu Rovolvcrs. Ammunition. Ter. Cap*.
Hi itiili 97 6 10 4,236 10
Gtrmnn 807 6 1,003

Total 1,782 16 G.3C' 10
Cases of rifles are said to contain from 30 to 60 weapons in each as a
rule. Sometimes 70 weapons are packed in a case. Taking an average of
45 to a case the imports of rifles during the nine months may be put at 80,190.
But some of the eases marked as containing arms are said to contain revolvers
and pistols so that the above total is probably liable to some reduction.
Various makes imported and their prices.—Martini-Henry Government
pattern condemned rifles, marked Nos. 2 and 3 respectively, commanded
a very large sale during the first part of the nine months under review.
They were sold wholesale at R37 for No. 2 and R42 for No. 3. Retail
dealers sold the first for R45 and the second for R52. As the stock of
these rifles is now exhausted, purchasers have turned their attention to
arms of other make. Buyers from Kowcit now purchase either the
English or Belgian imitation Martini-Henry rifles bearing mark
Mashallah or Sultani in gold letters. The former (English) is sold for
R35 to R38 and the latter (Belgian) for R32 to R34. The market in Kowcit
at present is said to be very dull and therefore sales arc small. Afghans
ana Mekranis buy largely the Roumanian Government condemned rifles
which have been recently introduced and which arc sold for R30 to R34.
The original trade price is R25. They also purchase for sale to poor
tribesmen a rifle of Austrian make called Cologogo (Werndl) which is sold
locally complete with bayonet for R10. The original price of these
is shillings 8/6. The prices quoted above include 100 rounds of ammunition
with each rifle.
The average market price of a rifle with 100 cartridges at Maskat is
said to be as follows :—
English R.38 (average is calculated from price of R85 to 42).
Belgian ,»31 ( ditto „ 28 to 35).
French »i 14 ( ditto „ 12 to 16).
German ,i 20 ( ditto „ 10 to 30).
Roumanian • „ 30 (only of one kind).
The export to the Mekran Coast.—The export of arms from Maskat to
the Mekran Coast suffered more than last year from measures taken locally
to restrict it. H. M. S. Proserpine captured a boat from which the arms
had been jettisoned at the end of March. She also captured a small allow
on April 18th containing 1,500 rifles and ammunition. A boom engaged in
arms running was seized by a Persian customs launch at the end oi M y
1908, but the crew escaped with the arms.
On June 18th, a dhow which was sighted by the Redbreast jettisone
rifles and ammunition. On June 19th news was received that another anow
sighted by the Sphinx had jettisoned 200 rifles and ammunition.