Page 95 - 8 Persian Trade rep Muscat 2_Neat

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animals. and i3 difficult, dangerous and expensive. Shipping.
TL«r rates depend upon the distance the goods have Steamer*.—The usual statement showing figures
to be conveyed and the dilliculty of the journey. is attached to this report. 130 steamships of all
The local Government is now constructing a road Nationalities entered and cleared the port during
to link up Muttrah with the Batineh Coast porta. the year, representing a net tonnage of 424-439*48
A road from Muscat to Mattrzk is also under and 84 sailing vessels with a tonnage of 10076*26.
construction. Of the 130 steamships which entered the port, 8
were from the United Kingdom, 112 from India,
8 from Persian Gull, 1 Russian and one Italian
Agriculture.
from ’Iraq.
Date growing is the real industry of the country. The British India Steam Navigation Company,
Limes and mangoes arc also successfully grown, Ltd., have maintained a weekly 6low mail service
while pomegranates arc the product of the Jcbel both from Bombay and Basrah. The fast mail
Akkdar. Cereals arc grown on a small scale and service which was discontinued daring the war haa
coaid not be further developed owing to the limited not been resumed since.
quantity of water available. Iradequate rainfall
in Oman for several years past has been the cause Freights.—The statement below gives the average
of ruin for many date gardens; veils have become rates of freight:—
dry and brackish. Per ton.
Ea. a. p. Raw a. 7.
Population.
Dry d n tea 4 0 per bag 15 0 0
No regular census of the popalation of Muscat Wet datca ia mat bags 1 0 0 „ „ 15 0 0
and Mattrah has ever been taken. It is therefore - r, „ boxes . 0 10 0 per box 15 0 0(21 boxes)
not possible to give exact figures. But it has recent­
ly been estimated at 12,550, viz., 4,540 are in Muscat Dry fish to Colombo . 30 0 0 (per Cwt.)
and 8,240 in Mattrah. Owing to the dearth of Pomegranate*) . . 1 8 0 15 0 0
trade the Indian trading community which inhabit­ Dry Limes to Persian
ed the town of Muscat and handed 95 per cent of Golf .10 0 0 30 0 0
the trade have disappeared and almost all their Wet dates to D. S. A.
business premises are empty and in ruins. The (per ton ci 40 cubit
second port of Mattrah, which has conveniences feet) . £ 3 10 0
and communication with the interior of Oman, is or Ra. 4£ 8 0
now fairly well populated and it3 trade is much
improved as compared to previous years.
Public Health.
The climate of Muscat ia extremely unhealthy G. P. MURPHY, Major,
and the heat is excessive, especially at night. The % *’•
highest temperature recorded in the year was 110° Political Agent -and Bis Britannic Majesty’s Consuly
and the lowest 58*9°. Muscat*