Page 179 - 7 Persian Trade rep Muscat 1_Neat

REPORT

ON THE

TRADE OF MUSCAT

for the year 1913-14, hy Lieutenant-Colonel R.A.E. Eeun, C.I.E., His
Britannic Majesty’s Consol, Muscat

INTRODUCTION. !j Rs. H5-S-0 (£9-14-0) to Rs. 154-S-O (£10-0-0)
ssafear-11*”' * *■* -
t;on of the south-eastern coast of Arabia up to :be . The following gives the average rates ruling
entruhee to the Persian Gulf. . the local market in each month for the past
.Muscat is the only port of call for steamers ^iree years -
in Oman, but as the town lies at the end of a
eove surrounded by huge reeky hills, it has no Month 1511-12. 1012-13. 1913*14.
means of communication with the interior. The
neighbouring town of Matrab, about 2 miles up Rs.
ihe coast, supplies this want, and is the Icca! April . Rs. 132 J 144 Rt.
143 J
centre for trade with the interior. May . 137t 141J 140|
Jine . 141} 143 ISC-1
CURRENCY. i J ulr 143 j 145 155*
Ancost 143 J 149 154*
The curren?y of the country is the Maria S<-pl ember 143} 147 153*
154*
150
October
140*
Theresa dollar and the drbasod copper coin minted Xo\«-jnber iso I 151* 152}
in lS'Jo to the order of IT is Highness the Sultan. i December HU 149 147*
141J
Sovereigns and British Indian coins are also January 142 153 147*
Ftbraary
146*
147
current in Muscat and Matrah. In the interior March 1431 146 145}
these coins are exchanged at a discount.
Trade accounts are kept In Mobamadis and
Gaj, imaginary coius. There are two kinds of WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Mohamadis black and ‘white, Black 201 = 1 There are two different kinds of these—one
dollar and white 11J = 1 dollar. The white is for the Sultan’s Customs, and the other for retail
used in wholesale trade accounts and the black bazaar use
for fruits, vegetables, etc. Most Ilundis from ■
India show their face value in Mohamadis and (i) Those used by the Sultan’s Customs
not in rupees:— j are
20 gaj=l mohamadi l 1 Hu • or 5*9375 or*.
1 Muscat naund • {144 or 24 kl*s or 8 lbs. 14} or*.
111 mohamadis = 1 dollar
10 Mucat caundj . 1 lira!*.
100 mchamadis=l toman. 200 Illicit xraonJf . lhtLx.
The rate of exchange between the Maria There is yet another weight also called
Theresa dollar and the rupee varied from “ Bahr n which is equal to 400 Mascat maunds.
246 ». * F. u.