Page 63 - 8 Persian Trade rep Muscat 2_Neat

Report on the Trade of Muscat for the year 1927-28.

silver, by the local demand in the (late season*
Int reduction*
and by the state of the Bahrein pearl market.
©;caT is the capital of the independent Sulta­ Trade accounts arc kept in Mohamad is and Cajh
nate of that name situated at the easterly corner imaginary coins. There arc two kinds of Jloha-
of Arabia. Its seaboard is nearly 900 inCes long madis—black and white. Black 20J-1 dollar and
and extends from Tibbat on the west side of Cape white 11J-1 dollar. The white is nsed in whole­
Mussendaro round Raa Sajit rather over 200 miles sale trade accounts and the black for fruits, vege­
due north of the island of Socotra, with the excep­ tables, etc. Most hundi3 from India show their
tion of a smnll strip on the east coast of the Mus- face value in Mohamad is and not in rupees.
sendam peninsula from Dibbeh to Khor Khalba 20 Gajh . . 1 Mohamadi.
which is in the administration of the mince chiefs . Ill Mohamadia . . 1 dollar.
of Tracial Oman. The Sultanate extends inland 100 Moh&madis . . 1 Toman.
to the borders of the Great Desert but of late years
the On.anis have become virtually autonomous The average rate of monthly exchange between
and are now more subject to the Imam of Oman the Maria Theresa dollar and the rupees varied
and his lieutenant Shaikh Isa bin Saleh ihan to from Us. 12G-6 to Rs. 132 per 100 dollars, the lowest
His Highness the Sultan of Muscat and Oman. being in February 1928 and the highest in Jane
The interior is for the most part mountainous, the and July 1927.
high country extending down to the sea coast in The dollar rate fluctuated from Rs. 126-5 to
a series of arid rocky heights though vegetation Rs. 133 per 100 dollars. It was lowest in February
exists ca the higher mountain. North-vest of 1928 and highest in June 1927.
Muscat the sea coast littoral tract is fertile and
prosperous and date groves extend along it for over Weighte and Measures.
100 miles. This strip is known as the Batineh
Coast an-1 it is to here that the hillmen from Oman, The weights used in the Customs Department
finding the struggle Jor existence too keen in the are prescribed in Muscat, Mattrah and the Coast
face of a decreasing water supply, are gradually towns.
descending and forcing out the date and fisher They are:—
folk. The remainder of the coast with one notable
exception is barren and forbidding and rarely visited 1 Kiyaa . • . The vri^ht of 0 dollars
or 5-9375 ora.
by Europeans. The exception is Dhofar which is 24 . . Muscat Maund.
the name of a email fertile district comprising a 10 Maanda . , Farasala. .
group of villages at the south-west comer of the 200 • , B&hr.
Sultanate. Gwadur, a port on the Mekran Coast, Rice is sold by the hag; other cereals by the
and a smaD tract of country round it also owns following measures
allegiance to Muscat. It is the Last remnant of
the Omani possessions on the Persian side of the 40 Palis . , 1 Farrah.
Gulf. 20 Farraltf . . 1 Khandi.
The rupee which weighs one tola and the dollar
The town of Muscat, once so important and pros­
perous, Las been falling into decay for yean now. of which the weight is called “ Aukia ** are used
Most of the trade goes to the sister port of Mattrah for weighing drugs and perfumes. One “ Aukia **
which is the starting point of tie trade route to equals eight “ Miskals ”.
the interior, but Muscat still remains the capital
and seat of Government, Measures (Linear).
1 Shibr . , I Hand of 4| inches.
Currency. 4 Shibr. . . 1 Dhira or cubit.
4 Dhiraa . . I Bab* or fathom.
The currency of the country is the Maria Theresa
dollar and the copper coin minted in 1895 to thp ILnlpi|t
order of His Highness the Sultan. In Muscat and
Mattrah, sovereigns, Indian currency note* and There are no hanks in Muscat. The system
Indian rupee* are generally accepted. among the merchants of issuing Hundis (drafts)
is in practice and as trade method* are primitive
The Maria Theresa dollar fluctuates in value there are not sufficient inducements for a bank to
Cpnsiderably being a fleeted by the world price of be established.