Page 123 - 8 Persian Trade rep Muscat 2_Neat

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tho year ending 31st March 1930. Of these 136
Agriculture.
with a total tonnage of 315,205 were under British
Date growing is the real industry of the country. flag. Four German Hansa Line vessels with a total
Limes and mangoes are also successfully grown, tonnage of 19,886 entered and cleared the port.
while pomegranates arc the product of the Jcbcl The British India Steam Navigation Company,
Akhdnr. Cereals are grown on a small scale and Limited, have maintained a weekly mail service both
could not be further developed owing to the limited from Bombay and Basrah. The fast mail service
quantity of water available. Inadequate rainfall
in Oman for several years past has been the cause which was discontinued during the war has not been
of rwT; for many date gardens; well have become resumed since.
dry and brackish. Sailing Vessels.—89 sailing vessels of all nationali­
ties with a total tonnage of 11,413 entered and clear­
Population. ed the port during the year, of which 87 vessel*
were from British India and 2 vessels from Persia
No regular census of the population of Muscat with a total tonnage of 11,045 and 368 respectively.
and Matrah has ever been taken. It is therefore
not possible to give exact figures. But it has recent­ Freights.
ly been estimated at 12,580, viz., 4,340 arc in Muscat
and 8,240 in Matrah. Owing to the dearth of trade Freights ruling during the year were as follow* :—
the Indian trading community which inhabited the
town of Muscat and handled 95 per cent of the trade Per too.
have disappeared and almost all their business pre­ To Bombay and Karachi—
mises are empty and in ruins. The second port of Rx a. r. Ha. a. r.
Matrah, which has conveniences and communica­ Dry dates • . 1 4 0 per bag 15 0 0
tion with the interior of Oman, is now fairly well Wet dates . . 0 10 0 per box 15 0 0 (24 boxes)
populated and its trade is‘much improved. Wet dates . .10 0 per bag 15 0 0
Dry firb in bundles 10 0 per bundle
Public Health. Pomesranateo .18 0 per crate
The cbmate of Muscat is extremely unhealthy To Colombo-
and the heat is excessive, especially at night. The Wet dates . 36 0 0 of 40 cJU
highest temperature recorded in the year was 110° Dry fish .
and the lowest 66*2°. 36 0 0per20cwU.
To United States of America—
Wet dates in bags
Shipping.
and in boxes . .. 3 10 0 per ton of
SleaTT-cri.—The usual statement showing figures 20cwta.or
is attached to this report. The principal steam- To London— 40 cJt.
*hipa lines which called at Muscat were as follows :—
Wet dates in bags
(1) The British India Steam Ship Navigation and boxes • • £326 per ton of
Company, Ltd. 20 evts. i
and 40
(2) The Stride Line of Steamers. cJt,
!
(3) The Ellerman and Bucknall Steamship
Co., Ltd.
(4) The Hansa Line Steamers. T. C. FOWlE, Major,
140 steamers of all nationalities aggregating Political Agent and Hit Britannic Majesty1 $ Consul,
335,091 tons entered and cleared the port during
Muscat,

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