Page 79 - 7 Persian Trade rep Muscat 1_Neat

REPORT

ox THE

TRADE OF MASKAT

for the year 1910-1911.

[Br Major S. G. Knox, C.I.E., His Britannic Majesty's Consul* Maskat.]

JnlrodurHon.—Maskat is tto capital and the i Tho following 3ro the average rato3 ruling in the
wineipal port of the Sultanate of Oman, which | local market in each month for tho past three
comprises a portion of the south-eastern and tho years:—
eastern coast of Arabia up to tho entrance to tho ___________________ ___________________________
Persian Gulf.
190S-09. 1009-10. 1910-11,
Mosbat is the only port of call for steamers in
Oman, bat as the town lies at the end of a cove
surroonded on three sidc3 by rocky hills,, it has Es. Es. Es.
no means of communication with the interior.
The neighbouring town, Matrah, about 2 miles April 136* 123* 13**
up the coast, supplies this want, and is the local
centre for trade with the interior. May 132* 129* 132*
Currency ar.d exchange.—Tho currency of the
country is the Maria Theresa dollar and the debased June 138* 129* 135/,
copper coin minted a few years ago to tho order
of His Highness the Sultan. Sovereigns and
British Indian coins are also current in Maskat and July 140 m* 117*
Matrah. In the interior these coins are exchanged
at a discount. August 136 134* lSSff
Trade accounts are kept in Mahomadis and Gaj,
imaginery coins. There are two kinds of Mahomadia, September 136* 133 132*
black and white. Black 2Q*=1 dollar, and white
111 = 1 dollar. Tho white is used in wholesale trade October 132* 130 133*
accounts, and the black for fruits, vegetables, etc.
Most Hundis from India show their face value in
November
Mahomadis and not in rupees. 131* 131 133*
20 Gaj=l Mahomadi. December , 139* 123* 133*
11* MahomadLs—1 Dollar.
100 M»lmma(li<=l Toman. January 130* 131*
The rate of exchange between dollars and rnpocs February 0 130 139* 134*
▼aried from Ra. 130-9-G to Bs. 141-12-9 (£8 14*. Id.
9*- OJd.) per 100 dollars, the lowest being in
September and the highest in August. March 129| 127* 134*
»8 *. D.