Page 175 - 8 Persian Trade rep Muscat 2_Neat

Report on the Trade of Muscat for the year 1931-32.

India sliow their f^cc value in Mohaniadis and not in
Introduction.
rupees.
0 • Muscat is the Capital of the Independent Sultanate .
i>f that name situated at the easterly corner of 20 Calk . 1 3t«>liaraa*li.
Arabia. Its seaboard is nearly 100 miles long and 11) Mociamadia . . 1 Dollar.
extends from Tibbat on the vest side of Cape 100 Mo tiara* dio . 1 Toman.
Mussandam round JUs Rajir rather over 2(0 milca
due north of the Island of Socotra, with the excep­ Exchange Rate.
tion of a small strip of the cast coast of the
Mu van dam Peninsula from Dibich to Kbor Kalba Excna5d tza 1W Xaua Tuiuu
which is in the administration of the minor chiefs of DOLLAk*.
Trucial Oman. The Sultanate extends inland to
the borders of the Great Desert but of late years 1929-30. 1930-31. 1931-32.
the Omanis have become autonomous and are now
subject to trie Imam of Oman and his Lieutenant
Sheikh Isa Lin Salih. The interior is for the most Ra. a. r. B*. a. r. Ra. A. ».
part mountainous, the high country extending down Highest bazaar rate . 125 0 0 89 5 O 84 8 0
to the sea coast in a scries of arid rocky heights though Lowest bazaar rate . 97 8 0 67 * O 63 0 f
vegetation exists on the higher mountains. North­ Average bazaar rale . 116 8 0 75 5 O 73 0 •
west of Muscat the sea coast littoral tract is fertile
and prosperous and date groves extend along it for
over 100 mfles. This strip is known as the Batinah Weights and Measures.
Coast. The remainder of the coast with one notable
exception is barren and forbidding and rarely visited The weights used in the Customs Department
by Europeans. The exception is Dhofar which is prescribed in Muscat, Matrah and the Coast town
the name of a small fertile district comprising a are:—
group of villages at the south-west corner of the 1 Kijaa . The weight of 6
Sultanate. Gwadur, a port on the Mekran Coast, dollars of 5-9375
and a small tract of country round it, also owns allegi­ ou.
ance to Muscat. It is the last remnant of the Omani 24 Kxyaa . . 1 Muscat Maund.
possessions on the Persian side of the Gulf. 10 Muscat Maandfl . , 1 Farmal
The town of Muscat, once so important and pros­ 200 •• . 1 Bahr.
perous, has been falling into decay for years now.
Most of the trade goes to the sister port of Matrah Rice is sold by the bag; other cereals by the
which is the starting point of the trade to the interior, following measures:—
but Muscat remains the capital and seat of Govern­
ment. 20 Pal- . . 1 Farmh.
20 Farnhi . 1 Khaodi.
Currency.
The rupee which weighs one tola and the Dollar
The currency of the country is the Maria Theresa of which the weight is called 44 Auqia ” are used for
Dollar and the copp;r coin minted in 1S95 to the weighing drugs and perfumes. One 44 Auqia " equals
order of His Highness the Sultan. In Muscat and eight44 Misqalt ”
Matrah, sovereigns, Indian currency notes and rupees
are generally accepted. Measures (Linear).
The Maria Theresa Dollar fluctuate* in value
considerably being affected by the world price of 1 SLibr . • 1 Hand or 4) iaekoa.
silver, by the local demand in the date season, and 4 Shaba . . 1 DUr> or co bit.
by the state of the Bahrein pearl market. 4 Dhiro* • I Bab or fathom.
Trade accounts are kept in Mohamadia and Gajh,
Imaginary coins. There are t—o kinds of Moha- Banking.
madia, black and white. Black 20$=I Dollar.
The white U used in wholesale trade accounts and the There are no banks in Muscat. The system
black for fruits, vegetables, etc. Most hondis from among the merchants of issuing hondis (drafts) is