Page 206 - 8 Persian Trade rep Muscat 2_Neat

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Measures (Linear). Exports.
1 Shibr . 1 Hanl or 41 inelc*.
4 Shibra . 1 lthira or col*it. Total exports for the year under review amounted
4 Dhiraa . 1 IJ.nU or fathom. to Its. 20.27,331 of wliirli goods worth Its. 4,10,021
were carried l»y Sailin'! Voxels and tlic balance l»y
Banking;. steamships. They slnixv an increase of Its. 3,20,007
There are no banks in Muscat. The system from the previous year’s figures.
among the merchants of issuing hundis (drafts) is Cut ten goods locally manufactured were exported
in practice and as trade methods are primitive to Aden, Zanzibar and Africa : dry fish to Ceylon
there arc no sufficient inducements for the estab­ and Germany.
lishment of a Bank.
Trade. Muscat manufactures—turbans and lungi*.
The total volume of trade for the v.*ar 1932-33 These are exported to Zanzibar. Africa and Aden.
A considerable export of these articles passes through
amounted to Rs. 51,95,932 as Against IK 54,14,445 the post office and does not appear iu these returns.
of the previous year showing an increase of Rs. The Post Office returns for the year under report
5-4,507. show that goods worth Its. 13.3S9 were thus export-
Imports by SteameTs as well as by Sailing Vessels od.
show a decrease of Rs. 2,65,5*«9 as compared with Lcgislation.
the previous year.
Exports by Steamers as well as bv Sailing Vessels The Government is of the oriental type tempered
show an increase of Rs. 3,20,007 as compared with by treaty for the benefit of the British subjects,
the previous year. over whom the h>cal authorities have no jurisdic-
Of the total trade for the year the share of the tion. The Government is carried on by Ilis Iliph-
Sailing Vessels is Rs. 15,90.0-37 and that of the ness the Sultan assisted by a Financial Adviser and
Steamers Rs. 39,08,915. an advi.—r of the Interior. The Civil ami Criminal
Courts are prodded over by a Chief Justice. Cams
against British Subjects arc tried by the Political
Share of Trade.
Agent and His Britannic Majesty’s Consul, Muscat,
IVlfrLt* on principles of law adopted from British India.
Couijtrvs. Import. Exp-«n. ToTxL.
*J!C.
Cases against Muscat subjects are decided by the
r.«. r«. R*. Chief Justice but the right of Consular representa­
io/o/an
Isjqm 12.03.K2 32.01.«3 tion exists and is exercised.
P-TK* 3>l.«l J
r Kiard-nx i ji.a-.o IJi-.lA. B
43.U3
yjt*j CMO Customs.
i'nhcd sta:re of 3 merle* 4*lJ^35 im
2~jca 2-TT/.VJ SOS Reciprocal commercial treaties have been execut­
• Liia. = -r^ 21 *-S3 2*? ed by the Ruler of Oman with Great Britain, the
s-'.nsxpor* . H. 0 23
c »’L-r C'outlrW includ- £>34.507 O&.VT. 17-35 United States of America and France. In accord­
Coi
, £W. crnaiij and ance with the terms of these Treaties all goods im­
2.00723 3^7* ported into Oman arc subject to an import duty of
I GaR I ! 7p323 1-4S 5 per cent, ad valorem determined by the price
Total . 51,71,018 20-2T7.K4 54,0r322 10009 current in the local market. No export duty is
levied but a charge of 5 per cent, is imposed in Mus­
Though it will be observed from the alcove figurts cat and at the Coast ports on all dates and other
“bat India still holds the field in both import and fruits from the interior.
export trade, a reference to last year’s report will The Customs revenue is the main source of the
sdiow a very heavy decrease under these items with Government’s income.
the United Kingdom. This in the main is attribut­
able to the flooding of the market with Japanese Transport.
goods of every description. The determined attempt The chief and cheapest means of commercial
of Japan to corner the local market seems destined transport between the coastal towns is still by Dhow
io succeed if resolute measures arc not adopted to as, although light cars ply and afford rapid means of
lower the price of British commodities. This is communication throughout the Batinah, the un­
particularly applicable to piece goods of all descrip­ suitability of the existing tracks for anything in the
tions and to dry goods and metal ware. nature of lorry traffic precludes any attempt to
Imports. introduce road transport of commercial utility.
Total imports for the year amounted to Ra. A rough fair weather motor track has been con­
34,71,618 as against Rs. 37,37,118 of the previous structed to Swakim about 50 miles from Muscat but
year showing a decrease of R*. 2,65,500. Of the financial stringency docs not permit of coping with
to»a! imports goods worth Rs. 2-3,26,605 were carried the serious natural obstacles to be met with in con­
by steamships and Rs. 11,45,013 by Sailing Vessel* tinuing the track to Su*