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830. The Govcrnmont of India informed Major Cox that they approved of
his view of tlio situation ; and that, if the Sultan should again mention the
subject of a loan, the Political Agent must explain to His Highness the con­
ditions upon which they are prepared to entertain the idea, the Political Resident
was to submit the schemo for the adjustment of the Maskat finances which
appeared to him to bo practicable. Until this had been considered, no pro­
mise of pecuniary aid should, of course, he mado to His Highness. * 1
631. In a letter, dated 6th November, Major Grey wrote that ho had
reminded the Sultan of his undertaking to raise loans from the British
Government only, and that His Highness had agreed to observe his engage-
ment more closely in future. Subsequently in a demi-official letter of the 21st
November Major Grey suggested that, as tho Pronch appeared agreeablo to an
interdiction of the arms trade, the cessation of the traffic might bo used to
secure to consent of the Sultan to the reform of tho Customs.
(iii) Restrictions on sale of cheap liquors.
632. The Sultan was desirous of imposing enhanced duty or restrictions on
sale of cheap alcohol in Maskat. Tho G ov-
Eitorntl A., Juno 1002, No*. 6*11.
ernment of India would place no obstacle
in the Sultan’s way; hut the action proposed was contrary to the French treaty
of 1844. and American treaty of 1838, as well as tho British treaty of 1891, and
French and Amerioan representatives would have to he approached by the Sul­
tan (Foreign Department No. 70-E., dated Gth December 1901).
633. On further report, the Government of India stated that they had
no objection to prohibition of British
External A , September 1003, Noi. Gl-86.
subjects from selling spirits by the glass
or at loss than Re. 1 per quart, provided French and American Consuls
took similar action at the same time (No. 1701-E., dated 29th June 1903).
634. The French and Amerioan Consuls having no objection, a notification
was issued by the Sultan in June 1904
Secret E., August 1004, Nos. 210*218.
prohibiting the sale in retail by his subjects
of alcoholic or rectified spirits or any intoxicating liquors, or liquors, either by
the class or at a lower price than Re. 1 per quart, except beverages known as
M wine, beer and liquor,” ordinarily consumed by non-Mahomedans, which
could be retailed to them in unopened bottles, at the current market price, even
though it be less than a rupee per quart. A similar notification was issued on
7th June 1904 by the British Consul applying to British subjects, after obtain­
ing the approval of the Foreign Office.
(iv) Zakat* duty on dates.
636. The Sultan proposed in 1903, to raise M Zakat ” on dates, in origin
a religious tax and always collected direct even when customs were farmed,
from 1 per cent, to 6 per cent. The British traders objected they obtained
dates from the interior in 3 ways: (1) by sending out local middlemen,
with advances in off-season, (2) by pur­
External A., September 1903, Noa. 28-34.
chase from agents of growers at Maskat,
(o) by sending out representatives in date-season to purchase on spot; thislast
was the least frequent method. Only in the 3rd case need “ ZakatM fall on British
trader. The Sultan was informed under the orders of the Government of India
that there being no difference between Zakat levied as proposed and enhance­
ment of export duty: he must arrange to recover the Zakat in the interior
if at all (telegram to Major Cox, dated 21st July 1903).
636. From a report dated 20th September 1903, by Major Cox on Zakat
export duty and Arsa (octroi), it appeared,
External A., De ember 1903, No. 1.
■ that at Sohar and in other ports of that
Wiliyat, Zakat was levied regularly and at other ports irregularly, from Arab
producers, besides the universal 6 per cent, export duty. This occurred in
spite of the fact that the correspondence of 1886 shows the export tax was per­
mitted in lieu of Zakat. No Zakat was levied at Sur; and Burka, Sib and
Karyat were treated as incorporate with Maskat for fiscal purposes (Major Cox
to Colonel Kemball, No. 616, dated 28th September 1903)._________________ _
• Vidt for previous history paragraphs 313.314. Tha question of tho Impost «o far a* It exceeded tho 6 P** t
export duty woe diapoted of by elauso 4 of the ultimatum addressed to tho BulUn in February loOy t P B r
227 a nit).