Page 590 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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6. Trade.—It will be seen from the following table that there was a
decrease in the value of the total imports and a slight increase in that of
exports as compared with the figures of the previous year.
Yoar. Imports. Exports.
1930-37 . 44,05,801 32,51,741
1037-38 . 41,07,125 32,00,015
The principal articles of import were rice and piece goods and thoso
of exports were dry and wet dates and dry fish. Japan continued to be tho
chief supplier of piece goods, cement and matches whereas India continues
to bo the sole supplier of cereals.
7. A. Royal Navy.—(a) Visits of His Majesty’s sliips and R. A. F.
aircraft to Muscat are given in Appendix A to this report.
(6) Survey of Masirah Channel.—H.M.S. Challenger arrived on 5th
December. Major R. P. Watts embarked on 9th December reaching Masirah
on tho 11th. Survey work was carried out between 12th and 19th December,
the party landing each day on various parts of the south west coast of the
island. The attitude of the local inhabitants met with on the island both
at Umm Rasas and other places was friendly. Medical treatment of sick
persons by the sliip’s Surgeon while the ship was in the Masirah Channel
helped considerably in maintaining friendly relations with the islanders. The
challenger left for India on the 19th December to spend Christmas in Karachi.
She wifi bo returning to Masirah Channel early next year to complete tho
survey.
B. Royal Air Force.—The R. A. F. maintained their wireless station
at Muscat throughout the year. The staff consists of one Non-Commissioned
Officer and 3 operators from 203 (F. B.) Squadron at Basrah, and are re-
lieved every 6 months. The station is in direct wireless communication
with Shaibah and Habbaniyah in Iraq.
8. Aviation Oeneral.—Imperial Airways station at Gwadur was moved
to Jiwani in Kalat State in the month of May 1938.
Permission to land at Gwadur was accorded by His Highness the Sultan
to machines of the Dutch K. L. M. and Air Franco Companies but no
aircraft of the former company and only one of the latter alighted at that
place during the year.
The aerodrome at Gwadur is no longer maintained and supplies of fuel
are not now available there.
9. Foreign Interest.—(a) The French Consulate remained closed through­
out the year.
(b) American interests remained in the hands of the Political Agent
during the year.
10. Missionary Work.—The Missionary work of the American South
Arabian Mission (The Dutch Reformed Church of the United States of
America) was carried out by the Rev. and Mrs. Dykestra, while Dr. P. W.
Harrison remained in charge of the Medical side of the Mission at their
Hospital at Mutrah.
Dr. (Miss) Hosman attached to the women's Hospital of the Mission at
Muscat made several tours of the Batinah Coast during the year for treatment
of tho sick as she has done for several years past.
The entire staff of the Mission left Muscat for India on recess during the
summer months.
11. Slave Trade.—During the year 71 slaves applied for manumission
certificates and 57 slaves were manumitted. Of the 71 applicants 17 were
captured slaves (of whom 13 were manumitted) and the remaining were
domestio slaves.
12. Weather.—The total rainfall during the year was only 2# whioh com­
pares unfavourably with that of the last year of 5\