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Sums iu Specie, Gold and Silver coins, Pearl and considerable quantities of Brimstone, Hock
Salt, Copper, Arsenic, Balls and many less important mercantile Articles.
Tlio Vessels belonging to the Arabs of Muscat) which are annually despatched to the
Ports of Hodceda, and Mocha in tbo Red Sea; convey to those places considerable quantities
of Dates, tho Produce of the vicinity of Bussora, Pearl, various kinds of Piece Goods, the Manu­
factures of Bengal, of the Coasts of Coromandel and Malabar, aud of Surat, Cotton Shauls,
Chinaware, Sugar, Sugar Candy, Popper, Sandal Wood, Ginger, Cardumums, Cloves Nutmegs,
Cinnamon, Cassia Flowers, Musk, Cam phire, Opium, Termeric, Indigo, Tobacco, Rosewater and
many less important mercantile Articles, and bring in return to Muscat, very valuable cargoes
of Yemen Coffee, a Variety of Drugs, and considerable sums of Money in Venetians and
German Crowns.
The Vessels belonging to the Arabs, which navigate the Persian Gulph, convey to the
different Port9 thereof tho principal Part of tho Yomen Coffee, and of the different Indian and
European Mercantile Articles which are annually imported as beforementioned at Muscat ;
and being in return to that Place, principally, however, from Bussora, considerable quantities
! of Dates, Copper, Arsenic, Galls, Saffron, Raw Silk, Bagdad and Aleppo Cuttauces, Needles,
k Hardware, Tobacco, Rosewater, dried Fruits, Opium, Assafotida, a variety of other Drugs, many
less important mercantile Article! and large Sums of Money, in various Gold Coin6.
Tho remaining in considerable Part of the Yemen Coffee, and of the other different
mercantile Articles, which are annually imported at Muscat, is destined for the consumption of
that Place, aud of the other Parts of the Provinco of Oman. It is circulated through that
Province by Land conveyance, by the means of Camels, at a moderate Expence, and without any
consequential Risk.
The Duties collected by the Government of Muscat, are 6^ per Cent, on all Importations
even Provisions not excepted.
From the foregoing Information, relative to the Commerce of Muscat, it evidently appears
to be of a veiy important and extensive Nature, and on a consideration of the Advantages
arising to Muscat from local situation, it may be fairly concluded that its Commerce must
ever flourish. Even in the present Period, whilst Trade languishes and an increasing Scarcity
of Specie, prevails in the Turkish and Persian Dominions, the Merchants of Muscats of are
engaged in Capitals Commercial K overprizes, and their sales and Purchases are uniformly made
for ready Money. The Wealth derived to them from the valuable Importations annually made
at Muscat, of Coffee from the Ports of Hedeeda aud Mocha, in the Red Sea, and of Sugar from
Batavia are alone sufficient, to reudor them rich and respectable. The Importations of Coffee,
amount to near one half of the quantity annually produced in Yemen, and is sufficient for the
full consumption thereof, in the Countries of Persia, Arabia Deserta, Mesopotamia, Coordiatan,
Armenia, Georgia and Natolia, aud in part to satisfy the Demand for that Article of Luxury
in Syria, Turkey in Europe, Germany, Poland, Russia and other Northern Kingdoms. The
Importations of Sugar are very largo, and are sufficient for tho Supply, in that indispensably
nocessary Article of the Countries of Persia, Arabia, Deserta, Mesopotamia, Coordistan, Armi-
nia, Georgia and Natolia.
The Commerce of the many small Sea Ports, which lie on the Arabian Shore of the
Persiau Gulph, between Muscat and the Island of Bahreen, is so very inconsiderable, as not
to merit attention.
It has already beeu remarked, that independent of the Pearl Branch, the Commerce of the
Island of Bahreen, has till latterly been very inconsiderable. The great share which it
possesses of the Pearl Fishery, although it has not latterly proved so productive as in former
Times, is, however, in itself a Commercial object of very great Importance. It ongages the
attention of many rich Arabian Merchants resident at Bahreen, and it gives Employment to
many industrious Poople 0f the lower Class belonging to that Place. The principal Fishery is
carried on during the Month of May, June, July, August, and September, and in that Season
generally yields, Pearls of different Kinds and Sizes to the value of a Sum of Money, equal to
Bombay Rupees, five hundred thousand which aro divided in Proportions settled by Agreement,
between tho beforomentioned Arabian Merchants, who are the Proprietors of tho Vessels
employed in the Fishery, tho Peoplo who navigate them, and the Divers, who are extremely
expert, in their art. The principal part of the Pearl, is conveyed from Bahreen, direct to