'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎631] (675/733)

GULF OF PERSIA.
one mile deep, and, except abreast the half-moon battery, is nearly the
same breadth as at the entrance. The best anchorage for a ship only
going to stop a fe\y days is in eight or nine fathoms, mid -channel, be-
tween the fort on Muscat Island and the half.moon battery ; for ships
landing cargo, a berth in six fathoms, a little within the battery, rather
oyer towards Muskat Island, would be the best,
MCJ8KAT,
Muskat Is the capital of the Kingdom of Oman, and the residence of
the Imaum or Sultan. It is situated at the bottom of the cove of the
same name, and is in lat. 23° 38' 5" N., long. 58° 40' 20" E.
It is in some parts well built, and is a place of great trade. The
maum's palace is on the water side, and is a good but plain building
On the top of a high hill, on the western side, is a large fort, origin all y
built by the Portuguese, called Jilla Farsah, and on the east side, over
the gap, is another very strong fort, named Jilla Ali. Several small
towers and forts are scattered about on the hills, and over the pass to
the SE. Though barren rocks and buildings are all that are to be seen
yet at few places do you get better supplies,—fruit in the season in the'
greatest abundance, and some at all times of the year, particularly
limes, and remarkably fine pomegranates; vegetables, though of the
country sort, are very good, and plentiful; beef and mutton of the finest
quality; the poultry, though small, is good; and fish of the finest qua.
hty, and at all times, in the greatest abundance.
Ihe population of Muskat is constantly fluctuating. At times it
amounts to near thirty thousand souls; at other times there is not more
than ten or twelve thousand. There are about two thousand Banians
settled here, who carry on a thriving trade. They are patient and
enduring, and have little or no expenses. They are brokers to most of
the Arab merchants, and generally agents to any European ship that
trades to this place. Some of them have great influence with the
Imaum, who finds it greatly to his interest, and the benefit of his revenues,
to give them every encouragement. There are twelve or fourteen
merchant ships and brigs belonging to the port of Muskat, of from one
thousand to two hundred tons burden,
To the small places before described, there belong nearly two hundred
large trading boats, that trade to India, Kutch, the Coast of Mukran,
Sind, the various ports in the Gulf of Persia and the Red Sea, the island
of Zanzibar, and the Coast of Africa. The ships trade to Bengal, the
Isle of France, Bourbon, and Malabar Coast.
The imports are piece goods, both of British and Indian manufacture,
indigo, timber, rice, sugar-candy, sugar, coffee, spices, dried fruits, dates,