Coll 30/9(2) 'Admin. Reports of the Persian Gulf - 1945 -' [‎294r] (587/1148)

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Cereals and textiles were the main imports. Over 60%
of the exports was indigenous i.e. wet and dry dates y salted
fish, sardines and fish manure. The remaining 40% was transit
trade.
(ii) The exchange rate of the Maria Theresa dollar, the
local currency, appreciated steadily during the year, from
200 to 260 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. to 100 dollars. In pre-war days the M.T.
dollar and the rupee were approximately at par. The reasons
for the present variation are (a) the increased value of the
silver content of the dollar vis a vie that of the rupee
(b) scarcity due partly to hoarding but mainly to (i) increased
demand from tiie interior consequent on the high export price
of dates (ii) restrictions on dollar export from Aden and
(iii) demand for dollars along the South Arabian Air Route.
It is of interest to note that the somewhat debased
dollar minted for the use of the Allied Forces in East Africa
has no currency locally. His Highness the Sultan can spot one
almost at a glance 2
v. XHE BOOTH ARABIAN AIR ROUTE.
The three aerodromes in the Muscat State viz. at
Salalah, Has al Hadd and Masirah, wore in operation through^
out the year. Masirah expanded rapidly and is now the largest.
VI. FBEINCH IHTERESTS .
The French Consulate remained closed throughout the year.
VII. MISSIONARY WORK .
The American Mission under the charge of Rev. and Mrs.
Dykstra continued their work throughout the year. Dr. W.W*
Thoms remained in charge of the medical side of the work at
Mat rah.
VIII. sl&v&SX.
26 slaves applied for manumission certificates duriiig
the year under report and 18 were granted. Of the 26 applicants
9 were domestic slaves and the remainder captured slaves.
S.S. H Dahpu rt anchored in about five fathoms in Muscat
harbour at 2 a.m. on the morning of the 28th June. At 08.46
a.m. a tremendous explosion occurred in No.3 hold of the ship
and her stern sank rapidly to the harbour bed. The ship was
anchored at 2$ cable lengths from the shore and the force of
the explosion was such that a piece of twisted iron, about two
feet long and one foot thick, was hurled over the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. into
the tennis court behind and another large piece hit the
verandah of the Treasury Officer’s house on the sea front.
It was subsequently established that she had been tornedoed.
The total casualties were t
Ship’s crew (all Indian)
Muscat coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. .
Compounder of the
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. Hospital.
Bttafl.
Missing -
believed
Wounded.
7
8
2
17
8
2
1
mm
-
26
16
4
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