Page 325 - 8 Persian Trade rep Muscat 2_Neat

Report on the Trade of Muscat for the year 1936-37.

PART L I currency notes and rupees are generally accepted
but the dollar is the only currency recognised in the
General description of the Sultanate of interior.
Muscat. The Maria Theresa dollar fluctuates in value con­
siderably, being affected by the world price of silver,
Muscat is the capital of the Independent Sultanate by the local demand in the date season, and by the
of that name situated on the Eastern Coast of Arabia. state of the Bahrain pearl market.
With the exception of a small strip on the east coast Trade accounts are kept in Mohamraadis and
of the Musandum Peninsula between Dibba and Gajh, hypothetical units of which the former com­
Khor Kalba, which is under the independent control prises two species, the black and the white.
of minor Shaikhs, the sea-board of the Sultanate The latter is used as a basis of calculation in whole­
extends in the north from Tibat, on the western sale transactions, whilst the black Mohamraadi.
shores of the Musandum Peninsula, to Raj Dharbat twenty and a half of which constitute a dollar, is
Ali in the south, situated some 290 miles due north used for petty retail trade. Most hundis from India
of the extreme westerly point of Socotra Iiland. show their face value in Mohammadis and not in
Inland the Sultanate extends to the borders of rupees—
the Rub-al-Khali or to give it its local name—the
Great Desert. Of late years the Omanis have become 20 Gftjh . 1 Mohammadi.
autonomous, the writ of the Sultan merely run-s Hi Mohammadia . . 1 Dollar.
throughout a coastal belt varying in depth from 100 Mobammadis . 1 Toman.
some 16 to 30 miles.
The interior is for the most part mountainous,
the main ranges running approximately parallel Exchange Rate.
to the sea coast with birren, rocky offshoots extend­
ing in places down to the sea. The higher inland LXC3U50E roc 1(0 MamaTezsesa
Doiuu.
ranges, with a comparatively good rainfall, are
wooded in places and generally fertile. ms-35. 1915-30. IMC-37.
The sea coast for some ISO miles north-west of
Muscat is known as the Batiruih. It consists of a £s. A. Es. A. B3. A.
fertile strip covered for some 100 miles of its length Highest bAxxAj rate . i:« 4 249 0 139 0
with extensive date groves.
The remainder of tie coast Line within the limits Lovrst bazaar rote . W 0 118 0 125 0
of the Sultanate is barren and forbiddins, with the II Av(n,t bazaar rate . IG'1 0 132 O 135 O
notable exception of Dbofar in the extreme south.
This southern province of Dhofar extends from Weights and Measures.
Murbat in the east to Ras Dhaxbat Ali in the west,
and is bounded on the north by the Qura mountains. The weights used in the Customs Department
Being well within reach of the monsoon rains prescribed in Muscat, Matrah and the Coast towns
and being blessed with several percnniil streams, are
this area, particularly round Salalah, is extremely Kiyas . The weight of 6 dollars
fertile. or 5-9375 ox*.
The town of Muscat, once important and pros­ 24 Kiyaa . 1 Muscat Maund.
perous, has given place to the adjoining port of 10 Muscat Mounds 1 Parana Ml.
Matrah as the trade centre and focus of commercial 200 Muscat Mound* . 1 Bahor.
dealings with the Batinah and the interior. Rice is sold by the bag; other cereals by the
Muscat however stZl continues to be the seat of following measures;—
Government and the capital of the Sultanate.
20 Pali* • 1 Farrah.
Currency. 20 Farrahs . . 1 Khaadi.
The currency of the country is the Maria Theresa The rupee which weights one tola and the dollar
dollar and the copper coin, known as the Baiza, of which the weight is called " Auqia ” are used
minted in 1895 to tie order of His Highness the for weighing drugs and perfumes. One 44 Auqia "
Sultan. In Muscat and Matrah, sovereigns, Indian equals eight44 Misqala ",