Page 294 - 8 Persian Trade rep Muscat 2_Neat

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Rice is soil by the bag; other cereal* by the The large majority of the Indian trading cominu-
following measures:— nity consistin'! «'f Khojas and Manias which formerly
inhabited Muscat has .since moved to Mutrah whore
20 Pali* . .1 Farrah. greater facilities exist for direct trade with the
20 Fanaha . . 1 Khaodi. interior.
The rupee xhich weights one tola and the dollar
of which the weight Ls called “ Auqia " arc used Shipping.
for weighing drugs and perfumes. One “ Auqia ”
equals eight ** Misqals **. The principal Steamship Lines which called at
Muscat and Matrah during the year under report
Measures (Linear). were as follows:—
1 Shibr . 1 Hand or 4) inches. (1) The British India Steamship Navigation
4 Shibr* . 1 Dhira or cobit. Co., Ltd.
4 Dhira* . 1 Ba* or fathom. (2) The Strict: Line of Steamers.
(3) The Ellcrman & Bucknall Steamship Co.,
Legislation.
Ltd.
The Government of the Sultanate is conducted (4) The Haosa Line of Steamers.
by the Sultan and is of the oriental type tempered
by Treaty for the benefit of British subjects over (5) The Yamashita Steamship Co., Ltd.
whom the local authorities have no jurisdiction. 165 steamers of all nationalities aggregating
The heads of the various State Departments 613,473 tons entered and cleared these ports during
carry out tbeir administrative duties under the the year ending 31st March 1935. Of these 133
orders of His Highness and the ITalis (or Governors) with a total tonnage of 396,017 were under the
in charge of districts arc directly responsible to the British Flag, 20 (Hansa Line) vessels with a total
Saltan. tonnage of 155.698, 10 Japanese with a total ton-
Civil and Criminal Courts are presided over by nage ^ 51,483 and 1 Norwegian with 10,010 tons,
a Chief Justice, but eases against British subjects entered and cleared the ports of Muscat and Matrab.
are tried by the Polirical Ag^at on principles of
lax adopted from British India. Cases of British
subjects and Protected persons against Muscat Freight.
subjects are decided in the Muscat Courts, in which Freights’ruling during the year were as follows :—
the right of Consular representation is held and
exercised. To Bombay and Karachi:—
K«. a.
Customs.
Dry Date* ... 0 14 per Kag.
Customs dcries on imports are at present levied Wet Date* . 11 0 per ton of 20 evta.
at the rate of 5 per cent, ad valorem on foodstuffs Wet Date* in rases • 17 0 per ton of 40 c. ft.
and general merchandize, 10 per cent, on certain Dry Fish in bundles . 1 0 per bundle.
goods classified as coming under the category of
“ luxuries ” sad 20 per cent, on liquors containing Pomegranates in crate . 1 0 per crate.
alchohol of the strength of 55° Under Proof or more. Ratt wool . . • 7 8 per bundle.
There is no duty levied on goods exported from Cotlos . 3 8 per bundle.
the State but produce from the interior brought Cotton piece-foods sod 14 0 per ton of 40 c. ft.
wooden goods .
into the Coastal towns for sale or export is charged
with an octroi duty of 5 per cent. To Colombo:—
In all districts subject to the Muscat Govern­ Diy Fuh • 33 0 per ton of 20 cwta. or
ment’s authority the ancient Islamic tax known as 40 e. ft.
41 Zalcat ” of 5 per cent, ad valorem, is enforced on Wet Dates . 33 0 per too of 20 cwta.
the principal products of the country, in this case
limes, dates and firewood. To London
The revenues derived from Customs and the
above taxes constitute the main source of the State's Wet Dates in hags or fa
income. . 2 17 6 per ton of SO cwta. or
40 c. ft.
Population.
No -regular census of the population of Muscat To United States of America:—
and Matrah has been taken but a rough computa­ Wet Dates in bag« or fa . 3 0 0 per too of 20 cwta. or
.
tion fixes the figures at 4,500 and 8,500 respectively. 40 c. ft.