Page 162 - A Hand book of Arabia Vol 1 (iii) Ch 6 -10

SULTANATE OF Oa(Ln
258 THE

it is enclosed by rugged hills on the landward side, but its isolation
is less complete; in addition to the coast road to Batinah, an easy
route leads over a pass to Beit el-Felej and Ruwi, whence routes
branch to various parts of the interior. Communication with
Muscat is maintained chiefly by'boat, the passage by rowing-boat
occupying about three-quarters of an hour. Most of the merchants
of Muscat reside here.
The town is built on a beach of Matrah Bay, which is less remark­
able in appearance than the Bay of Muscat, and is more easily
entered. Though open to the NE., it is sheltered from the NW.,
and is preferred as a harbour by native craft. The town extends
along the water’s edge for J mile, and has an average depth inland
of 250 yards. It is protected on the landward side by a wall with
fortified gateways, the principal gate being the Bab el-Keblr at the.
SW. corner of the town, by which the road leaves to Ruwi. As
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around Muscat, several block-houses command the approaches to
the town through the hills. On the seaward side Matrah is defended
by a fort on a rocky eminence at the E. end of the town ; it is
a Portuguese construction of the same type and value as the forts
of Muscat. Within the walls the town is divided into eleven
quarters, the houses being meaner than those of the capital; there
are six quarters outside the walls. The population is as hetero­
geneous as that of Muscat ; but whereas at Muscat there are many
Hindus and but few Khojahs, here the Hindus are few and the
Khojahs number over a thousand. In fact, Matrah forms the
head-quarters of the Khojah sect in the Persian Gulf. They live
in a fortified quarter in the centre of the town upon the sea-front,
known as the Khojah Fort, which gives them security from attack
by the Arabs and privacy for their women ; the only non-Khojahs
admitted to the enclosure are the British officials of Muscat,
whom they regard as their natural protectors. At least half the
population of Matrah are Baluchis, the predominant Arab tribes
being of the Beni Hasan, Siyabiyin, Rahbiyln, and the Beni
Jabir.

The bulk of the up-country trade of Oman is concentrated at
Matrah, which is the loading and unloading place of caravans for
the interior ; the import and export trade is mostly in the hands
- . :• of the Khojahs and Hindus. The town is governed by a Vali
on behalf of the Sultan, and has a garrison of 100 askaris. In
block-houses at each of the neighbouring villages of Arbaq and
Mateirah, a guard of 50 askaris is stationed at night lor the pro-
tection of the town.

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