Page 499 - 6 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE 2_Neat

Tin* c;ipit a I of i hc Sul t;i nai < e Muscat bu« Ha adjoining lout
of Mnlrali is the chief trading centre •» n»! the starting ) *«>• 1 * * d Mu
caravan rout os into 1 ] i < * intoiior. The populations of Hu* two towns
arc estimated al *1,500 and K.500 respectively
His Majesty’s tiovcrnmoni and tin (Jovernmeul oi Indie are
represented bv a Political Agent who is-also 11 is Majesty * Consul.

Customs.—Customs dues are at present levied on imports at the ad
valorem rate of 5 percent., save in the ease ol liquors, cigarettes and
manufactured tobacco, carpets, silks and artificial silks, musical in
strumcnls and accessories, perfumery, toys, vegetable ghee, opium
and drugs, on which the rate is It) per cent 'They provide tin main
source of revenue. No export duty is levied but a charge ol 5 per
cent, is imposed in Muscat and at all coastal town on dates and
other commodities from the interior.
Currency.—The Maria Theresa silver dollai is the standard
currency and is the only one used for dealings with the interior.
British sovereigns and Indian rupees and rupee notes are accepted
in the towns.
There are no banks and business is carried on amongst the
native merchants by issuing drafts on India. During 1033-34. tin*
value of 100 Maria Theresa dollars fluctuated from Rupees to
0(1 Rupees, the average bazaar rate being 00 Rupees H annas.

Transport.- Sailing vessel is the chief means of transport along
the coast and in 1033-34 out of a total value of imports amounting
to Rupees 3,008.222, goods to the value of Rupees I .oO^.OOt) were
ini|K>rted in sailing craft and to the value of Rupees 1 ,909.0*2*2 in
steamers. The value of goods exported by these two forms of trans-
j>ort amounted to Rujxvs 387.120 and Rupees 1 ,403.800 respectively.
Imports and Exports.—The following table shows the value in
Rupees of imports and cxjiorts for the last three years :—
in.n-.Tj 19:12-33. 19M-31.
Imports 3.737.1 Is :U7J,(>1S :k0ns.-jL,i»
Export^ 1.707..TJ7 2,027.Ml l .SM.:nu

Total 5,444.44") j.ius.n.vj •I ,sso,5.tj

The decline in the value of imports is largely due to the quan­
tities of cheap Japanese goods which have been unloaded on the
market.
The progress made by Japanese cotton piece-goods is shown by
a comparison of the import figures for 1032-1933 with those for
.1933-11)34. In the former year the value of cotton goods im-
ported from India amounted to Rupees 17*2,960, from the United
Kingdom to Rupees 43.705, from Persia, to Rupees 7,700 and from