Page 463 - 6 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE 2_Neat

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The populations of Muscat and Mattrah have recently been
estimated at 4,340 and 8,240 respectively. Owing to decreased
trade at Muscat the Indian community, which formerly handled
95 per cent, of the trade there, has largely disappeared. Many
have moved to Mattrah, the trade of which has grcatl}' increased
in recent years, largely on account of easier communication with
the interior of Oman.
Currency.—The currency of the country is the silver Maria
Theresa dollar, but trade with the outside world is financed with
British sovereigns, Indian silver rupees and rupee notes.
The Maria Theresa dollar-rupee exchange in 1926-27 varied
between Rs.150 per S100 in June, 192G, and Rs.l2S-6-0 per $100
in March, 1927.
In 1927-28 it varied between Rs.132 per $1G0 in July, 1927, and
Rs.l2G per $100 in February, 1928.
There are no banks in Muscat and trade is carried on among the
native merchants by a system of issuing drafts called Hundis.
Trade.—The principal imports in order of value in 1927-28
were:—(1) Rice; (2) cotton piece-goods; (3) coffee; (4) soft sugar.
The principal countries which imported goods into Muscat in
the three years 192-5-26, 1926-27 and 1927-28 were as follows : —

1925-26 i 1926-27 1927-28
l i ; l l
I
India ...j 394,839 289,776 293.402
Persia ...j 17.046 i : 15,892 18.513
United Kingdom ...I 12.333 : i 9.405 13.878
Singapore ... 30.974

In this table the import of nearly £31,000 worth of coffee beans
from Singapore in 1927-28 is noteworthy as a new departure. In
former years coffee came mainly from India and Ceylon.
India supplies the bulk of the imports of rice, cotton soods and
soft sugar.
The Persian quota of imports is made up of small quantities of
many different kinds of goods, most of which are re-exports.
The quota of the United Kingdom is mainly composed erf
cotton piece-goods, tobacco and cigarettes, and wines and spirits.
The principal exports in order of value are:—(1) Dried and
salted fish; (2) dates.
The principal countries to which goods were exported during
the same three years were as follows :—

1925-26 ! 1926-27 1927-28
.
£
£ 1
India • •• • •• 175,164 111.328 £
Cevlon .............. • •• 3,379 j 9,729 100,617
21.436
United States 26.425 | 12.896 10,520
Persia • •• • •• • •• 6,383 7.546 4.185