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journey and for five months in the year during the monsoon period1, com­
munication by sea is entirely cut oft'. The Official—a Member of the Rul­
ing Family—appointed by the Sultan to act as his representative in Muscat
had been invested with restricted powers and the consequence of these con­
ditions was to make the conduct of official business exceedingly difficult and
at times impossible. During the year the Political Agent lmd to proceed
three times by air and once by sea to Dhofar to sec the Sultan concerning
important matters.
Matters of lesser importance affecting the interests of His Majesty’s
Government and the Sultanate have been dealt with under appropriate
headings in Part II of the Report.
The Commercial Treaty between His Majesty’s Government and the
Sultan was renewed on lltli February.
5. Judicial.—Judicial matters form the subject of a separate report.
0. Trade.—Imports and exports during the year 1935-36 showed an
improvement as will be seen from the following figures supplied by the
local Customs Department.
1934-35. 1935-36. Incrcaso.
Imports . . 30,13,716 38,37,835 2,24,119
Exports . . 25,Cl,387 32,04,948 7,03,561
The imports show an increase of Rs. 2,24,119 which is due to increase
in the imports of textiles, wheat flour, tea, spices, twist yarns and oils.
Exports show an increase of Rs. 7,03,561, but this is due solely to the
exports of Maria Theresa Dollars to the value of Rs. 7,86,042 and Specie
and Silver Krans to the value of Rs. 1,12,400. Otherwise a decrease of
exports of the usual commodities is shown compared with last year.
Th:s decrease in exports is shown by the following figures:—
1934-35. 1935-36. Dccroa9e.
Dry dates . 11,22,715 7,13,330 4,09,385
Wet Dates . 2,64,373 2,37,084 57,289
Dried Fish . 4.00,006 1.43.7S5 2,62,221
The decrease in the value of dates is due to the lower prices ruling than
last year, while the shipment of dried fish heavily declined as a result
partly of the Italo-Abyssinian war but chiefly on account of the refusal
of the chief importer, Germany, to take any of this produce except on
a barter basis which for Muscat has been found impracticable. At the
close of the year large stocks of dried fish were on hand in the local ware­
houses and also in bond in Germany and if these cannot be disposed of,
severe losses will be suffered by the merchants concerned.
As in the past year, the chief place as an importer of piecegoods is
held by Japan who continues to strengthen her position in the market.
A cheap brand of Japanese cement is making progress against the
Indian (Porbunder) cement.
7. (A) Royal Navy.—Visits of H. M. Ships and Royal Air Force
Machines to Muscat are detailed' in Appendix “A” to this Report.
Last year the Sultan accorded permission for the establishment of a
recreational station for the use of the personnel of II. M. Ships, on the
small uninhabited island of Jazirat-al-Ghanum which is situated to the
north of the Mussandum Peninsula and at the entrance to the Persian Gulf.
The station was completed during the year and consists of a Canteen,
Officers’ Club, Power House, Store-house and Quarters for the Caretaker
and Staff.
(B) Royal Air Force.—A Royal Air Force reconnaissance with the co­
operation of H. M.’s Navy was carried out along the south-east coast of
the Sultanate in October-Novcmbcr. The object of the expedition was to