Page 519 - 6 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE 2_Neat

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F^txjrts amounted to 1,421,840 rupees in 1935-36, which was
increase of 15-4 cent, compared with 1934-5- Thesc
osist mainly of pearls, specie and bullion silver.

VII.—MUSCAT.

General.—Muscat is the capital of the Independant Sultanate
that name situated on the cast coast of Arabia. The seaboard
the Sultanate extends in the north from Tibat on the western
ore of the Musandum Peninsula to Ras Dharbat Ali in the
3th situated about 290 miles from Socotra Island. Inland
j Sultanate extends to the borders of the Great Desert,
tterly the Omanis have become autonomous and the Sultan's
thorny only runs through a coastal belt some 16 to 30 miles
de.
fhe interior is mountainous and barren, but the higher inland
iges are wooded in parts and mostly fertile. The sea coast for
> miles north-west of Muscat is called the Batinah. It is a
tile strip having extensive date groves. The remainder of
, coast line is forbidding and barren except Dhofar in the
jemc south, which being within reach of the monsoon rains
^cry fertile.
The town of Muscat, once important and prosperous, has
en place to the adjoining port of Matrah as the trade centre
the interior. Muscat, however, still continues to be the
i of Government and the capital town.
Tie population of Muscat and Matrah is estimated at 4,500
I 8,500 respectively. There is a fairly large Indian trading
amunity at Matrah.
lis Majesty’s Government and the Government of India are
resented by a Political Agent who is also His Majesty’s
lsul.

iustoms Tariff.—Customs duties on imports are at present
er cent, ad valorem on foodstuffs and general merchandise;
per cent, on certain goods classified as luxuries and 20 per
t. on liquors containing alcohol 55 deg. under proof or more,
duty is levied on exports, but an octroi duty of 5 per cent,
ayable on goods from the interior.

■urrency.—-The currency of the country is the Maria Theresa
ar. This is the only currency accepted in the interior, but
Muscat and Matrah English sovereigns, Indian currency
is and rupees are also in use. The dollar is liable to fluctua-
s caused by the world price of silver, local demand in the
5 scason, etc. The average exchange rate in 1935-36 was
rupees for 100 Maria Theresa dollars. There arc no banks
business is effected on the basis of drafts on India.