"دليل الجزيرة العربية المجلد II" [‎١‎٤‎٢‎٦] (٦٨٨/٤٨٧)

1426
'oman sultanate
Revenue collected
Strength
(in
$).
Revenue
reaching
the Masqat
District.
Military post.
of
garrison.
Customs.
Zakat.
treasury
in ( $).
Hajar (Eastern) ..
Hadd
15
■)
Do.
Sur*
135
( 6,000
2,200
4,500
Do. ..
Quryat
15
3,000
1,700
1,000
Do.
Samail (Hisn) . ,
25
2,400
1,000
Do. (Western)..
'Awabi
30
Nil.
Nil.
Nil.
Do.
Bidbid
20
Nil.
Nil.
Nil.
Do.
Burj -ash-Shikairi
10
Nil.
Nil.
Nil.
Do.
Haiyadh
10
Nil.
Nil.
Nil.
j Do.
Hibi c .
40
See Bati-
nah
above.
See Bati-
nah
above.
Nil.
Do.
Mizahit
15
Nil
Nil.
Nil.
Do.
Nakhl
25
1,200
Nil
Masqat ..
Masqat Town
200
■)
Do
Matrah
100
C 300,000
••
250,000
'Oman Proper
Izki
25
1,600
Nil
Do.
Manah
15
400
Nil
Do.
Nizwa ..
30
3,000
Nil
Huus-al-Jibal
Khasab
15
••
600
Nil
Total ,. |
1,050
367,000
62,000
290,700
• It is estimated that the customs of Sur would produce at least $50,000 a year, were the Sultan in a positfon
<o enforce his authority there.
The total strength of the Sultan's forces is thus considerable ; but the detachmentB
are so small and dispersed that his army, if such it can be called, is everywhere powerless
for aggressive action. When an effort that is more than merely defensive is required it
can only be arranged by subsidising tribal levies, a method which experience has shown
to be as ineffectual as it is expensive. The Sultan's soldiers or 'Askaris are partly
foreign mercenaries ; about 25 per cent, are Hadhramautis and 6 per cent. Baluchis,
and these are the most reliable part of his force ; but in some districts, as in Dhufar,
they are altogether locally recruited and are consequently not to be depended on. The
Askaris are without training and have no organisation unless by sections of about 20