Page 352 - 7 Persian Trade rep Muscat 1_Neat

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would probably bo a complete failure and largely The avorngo rate of monthly exchange between
useless. the Maria Theresa dollar and the rupee varied
from Rs. 237 to Its. 23G-8 j>er 100 dollars, tho'
Tho poverty of the people and their depen­
dence on the import of r.'cc by the merchant and . lowest being in August 1919 and tho highest in
tho sale of their dates also by him place the latter September 1919.
in a position of autocratic power. This position The following gives the average rates ruling
ho uses. in the local market in each month during the year
Thcro are no European traders, and with the under report Its. 15 = £1.
exception of the merchants of Sur there arc actu­ Rs.
ally no Arab merchants of importance. All April 1919 201 per 100 dollars,
trado, that is, export and import trade, is in the May 1919 239 ditto,
hands of Indian banias and khojas, who are Bri­ Jane 1919 2 IS ditto,
tish subjects. Again, with the exception of at July 1919 250 ditto,
Sur there are few sailing vessels owned by Arab?, August 1919 237 ditto.
and at this latter port alone survives a remnant September 1919 256-3 ditto.
of tho once far famed Arab traders of Oman.
October 1919 262 ditto.
Oman is a perfect example, as were Genoa
and Venice in former days, of the decay produced November 1919 95-1-3-3 ditto.
ditto.
250
by a change of trade routes and methods of trans­ December 1919
port. And this process of decay has not yet January 19*20 25o-12 ditto.
ceased. Tho opeuing up of Dubai on the Pirate February 1920 243 ditto.
coast as a steamer port has seriously affected March 1920 239-3 ditto.
Muscat through which it was formerly supplied,
and has more than halved the trade o: Sohar which Weights aud Measures.
only a few years ago implied the whole Birami The weights used in the Customs Depart­
oases and Hinterland. Manchester piece goods ment are now prescribed for use in Muscat,
have killed the local industries, w:a'.tu has passed Muttra aud the coast towns. They are
almost entirely into alien hands, and it is prob­
able that few people in the world have less cause 1 Kiyas =: the weight of 6 dollars or 5 9375 cz.
to blesi the advance of European civilization than 24 Kiyas = 1 Mu«at mound.
the Arabs of Oman. 10 Maunds = 1 F-ans^Ia.
200 Mauods = 1 Bear.
Currency.
Rice is sold by the lag; other cereals by the
The currency of tho country is the Maria ! following measures :—-
Theresa dollar and the copper coin minted in
1895 to the order of His Highness the Sultan. 40 Palis = 1 Farrah.
In Muscat and Muttra sovereigns, Indian cur- 20 Farraks = 1 XLazdi.
rency notes and Indian rupees are generally ac­ The rupee which weighs one tola, and the
cepted.
dollar, of which the weight is called “Aukia”,
The Maria Theresa dollar fluctuates in valus are used for weighing drags 3nd perfumes. One
considerably, being affected by the world price aulda equals eight nuskals;—
of silver and also by the local demand in. the
date season, and by *tbe state of the Bahrein Measorw (Linear %
pearl market 1 Sbibr = 1 band cf 4£ inebea.
Trade acoounts are kept in Mahomadis and 4 Sbibr = 1 Dhira or cabit.
Gajh imaginary coins. There are two kinds of 4 Dhiru = 1 ba’ cr fathom.
Mahomadis— black and white. Black 201 =
Idoliar, and white 11} = 1 dollar. The white Population and Country.
is used in wholesale trade accounts and tho black
for fruits, vegetables, etc. Most hand is from The population of Muscat is probably not more
India show their face Talue in Mahomadi* and then 2,000, but Muttra has increased consider­
notin rupees. ably and may bo almost 20,000. The majority
of the booses in Muscat are empty or in rains,
20 Gajh=l Mahorcadi. but building is brisk at Muttra. Sur Is an
11} Mahomadis = 1 dollar. enterprising Bailing vessel port of about 12,000
100 Mabomadii =1 Toman. inhabitants and what alone prevents a probable