Page 212 - Gulf Precis (1-B)_Neat

406
Vessels belonging to European Nations aud to the Moslem Morchants of Surat. The Plaguo
and many other causes, which will bo mentioned in the course of this Report, have since united
to injure the commerce of Bassora and have at length reduced it, to a confind and languid
6tatc.
The City of Bagdad is situatod in Mesopotamia on the Eastern Bank of tho River Tygris.
Its Commerco is greatly dependant on the Commerce of Bussora. In former times, it was
infinitely more extensive and consequential; than at tho present Period.
The public Records of tho Hon'ble Oorfipany at Bussora, contain considerable Informa­
tion relative to the British Commercial Intercourse with Arabia bordering on the Persian
Gulph, from tho Period of the Removal of the English Faotory from Gombroon, aud they will
prove that although essential Advantage is known to have accrued to British Individuals from
the prosecution of a rather extensive commerce with that country that little Benefit has arisen
to the Hon'ble Company from the disposal of their consignments thither, which have
principally consisted of woollens, and which have seldom met either a speedy or advantageous
Vend.
Eudeavors will be now used, for the Formation of a tolorably precise statement, of tho prewnt ila-
present Commerco of Arabia bordering on the Persiau Gulph, aud necessary Information ^^Ta^-—
will be given relative to the Degree of security attending a commercial Intercourse with that on the Ptrw
Gnlpb.
Couutry.
Tho situation of Muscat has been already mentioned. That Place is governed by a Person
whose Title is Vakeel, and who is appointed by the Imaum of Muscat, who resides at an inlaud
Town called Rustac, distant from thence, about Ninety Miles. The generality of Arab Gov­
ernments, are respectable ones, and that of Muscat is particularly so. It is severe, but it's
severity, is properly tempered by Justice. The Merchants settled there, and the strangers
who frequent that Port, are highly favored by the present Vakeel, by name Shaik Calphan,
who is always easy of Access, and who uniformly shows, a friendly Attention to their Applica­
tions, and an active Inclination to render them Justice. They may therefore, on all occasions,
justly consider their property to be in the most perfect state of security, and their Persons,
exempted from every species of Iusult.
The commercial Intercourse, carried on between Muscat, the Red Sea and the Persian
Oulph, is effected, by means of Dows, Dingies aud square rigged Vessels, belonging to the
Arabs ; and the commercial Intercourse, earned on between Muscat and India, is effcoted in
Part by means of the abovementioned Vessels, and in Part, by means of Vessels belonging to
different European Nations and to Indian Moslem Merchants. The first mentioned Vessels
navigated, by the Arabs of Muscat who are active and euterprizing, though not very Skillful
Seamen, perform voyages to the Guadel and Seindiem Coasts, to Surat Bombay, the Coast of
Malabar and even latterly to Calcutta. They aunually convey to those Places, considerable
quantities of Pearl, Rock Salt, Brimstone, Copper, Arsenic, Galls, Saffron, Raw Silk, Dates, Dried
Fruits, Assafotida, opium, a variety of other Drugs, many less important Mercantile Articles, and
large sums of Money in German Crowns, Venetians, aud other Gold and Silver Coins, and they
annually import from those Places, at Muscat, considerable quantities of Surat Piece Goods of
various kinds, Malabar Cloth Cotton yam, Gujerat Piece Goods, Chintz aud Cuttanees Cambay
Chauder8 Broach and Seindy Cotton, Shaul9, Bamboos, China ware, Sandal Wood, Pepper
Ginger, Cardamums, Nutmegs, Cinamon, Cassia Flowers, Musk, Camphire, Turmeric, Indigo,
Iron, Lead, Steel, Tin, Tothenaque, Red Lead, Oil, Ghee, Rice, Teak Timber, and many less
important Mercantile Articles.
The Vessels belonging to Indian Moslem ,Merchants, which occasionally visit Muscat,
convey to and from India, Commercial Articles similar to those imported at, and exported from
Muscat by the vessels belonging to that Port.
The Vessels belonging to European Nations, which annually import at Muscat, convey to
that Place, considerable quantities of Piece Goods, the Manufactures of Bengal and of the
Coromandel Coast, Sugar, Spices, Rice, Turmeric, Indigo, Iron, Lend Steel, Tin, Tothenaque, Red
Lead, Small Cannon, Balls and some coarse fire Arms. The three last mentioned Articles are
principally imported by the French.
Th6 Vessels belonging to European Nations, which annually import at Muscat, convey
from thence to the English Settlements in India, to Battavia, and to tho Mauritius, large