Page 207 - 8 Persian Trade rep Muscat 2_Neat

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Transport Rates by Car. Shipping.
Sfear/irrs.—The usual atateincnt showing figures
Name «*f town*. No cl mile*. Rate prr trip.
is altachul to this report. The principal steamship
lines which called at Muscat were as follows:—
Alout It*, a. r.
Mows! lo Matrah 21 1 8 O (1) The British India Steamship Navigation
., ., nalt-d-ralaj . 31 2 4 0 Co., Ltd.
„ ..WuUiyah. 10 S 12 O (2) The Stride Line of Steamers.
- * 81b . 30 is o o (3) The EUerman and Buclcr.aQ Steamship
Co., Ltd.
„ „ B«U Sfl 22 8 0
„ „ Muum . . 731 20 « O (4) The Ilansa Line of Steamers.
.. ..Snnalq . 87 30 0 O 123 steamers of all nationalities aggregating
m „ Klial.ura . 110 37 0 O 4,54,930 tons entered and cleared the port during
- „ Saham 128 52 8 O the year ending 31st March 19.33. Of these 115
„ „ Sabar . . . 114 52 8 O with a total tonnage of 4,05,013 were under British
flag. 8 German, llansa Line Vessels with a total
. „ . 105 CO 0 o tonnage of 49,923 entered and cleared the port.
„ „ Mur»lr-rl-Malarl*b 192 75 0 0
The British In»dia Steam Navigation Company*
Ltd.,* have maintained a weekly mail service both
Agriculture. from Bombay and Basrah. The fast mail service
Date growing ia the principal agricultural interest which was discontinued during the War has not
of the inhabitants of the Sultanate. Limes, man­ been resumed since.
goes and pomegranates arc also surcossfnllv grown Saiiirg Vcs*ds.—106 Sailing Vessels of all r*atio-
thc l»cst varieties in each case coming from the Jebel nalitic-s with a total tonnage of 11,401 entered and
Akdar region. cleared the port during the year of which G8 were
Cereals are also grown in quantities restricted by from British India, G Vessels from Persia and 32
the absence of an adequate water supply. Vessels from other countries with a total tonnage
The Omani of the better watered interior grows of 7,035 300 and 3,4G6 respectively.
sugar cane with considerable success but the methods
of cultivation and subsequent production for sale Freight.
are primitive in the extreme.
Freights ruling- during the year were as follows :—
Population.
Pa a.
No regular census of the populations of Muscat To Bombay and Karachi:—
and Matrah has Ix^n taken but a rough computa­ Dry dates . - 0 12 per bag.
tion fixes the figures at 4,500 ;and 8,500 respectively.. Wet dates . - 0 12 „ „
Wet dates in caiscs -16 0 „ ton of 40 cJt.
The large majority of the Indian Trading Com­ Dry fish in buddies . 1 0 „ bundle.
munity which formerly inhabited Muscat has since Pomegranates in crates . 1 0 „ crate.
moved to Matrah, where greater facilities exist for Raw wool - . 5 0 „ bundle.
direct trade with the interior. The deserted quart­ Raw cotton . - 3 8 „
Cotton piece poods and
ers of these emigres, having gradually fallen into woollen goods . - 3 0 „ bale.
a state of disrepair and ruin, lend an air of mourn­
ful desolation to the once thriving town of Muscat. To Ceylon:
Wet dates . . 36 0 „ 40 cJt. or 20 cwt.
Dry fish - 33 O „ Ditto.
Public Health.
The climate of Muscat and its immediate neigh” To Doited States of America:—
bourhood is extremely trying. The intense heat, Wet date* in bogs andis £ «.
accompanied by heavy moisture, is most oppres­ boxes . 2 15 „ Ditto,
sive in May and June, whereafter the distant effect*
of the Indian monsoon slightly alleviate conditions To London
till September, which month usually heralds the Wet dates in bags and in
malaria season. From December till February boxes . 2 16 M Ditto.
climatic conditions are ideal and afford a slight
respite from the remainder of the year.
The highest temperature recorded in the year BRENNER, Majob,
was 114 T and the lowest 53-4°. The total rainfall Political Agent and HU Britannic Majesty's Consul,
daring the year was 3*22 inches. Muscat,