'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎238] (280/733)

238
MUSKAT.
Saced Sulymaun bin Hamed, not related to the Imaum. He is not a
clever man, but a kind, good sort of person: he is the adviser of the
Imaum's son at Zanzibar, and was Regent during the minority of the
Imaum's late son the Governor, the Prince Khalid, who died in
November 1854. This man has much influence with the pagan chiefs
on the Coast of Africa. All the respectable men at Muskat and Zan
zibar generally attend daily at the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , or when the Imaum holds
his assembly, three times a day. They do not interfere in the Go
vernment; but if called on by the Imaum they would do as desired.
There are many of these men highly respectable, and wealthy for men
in these countries. The Imaum has not any regular Ministers, or
Secretaries for diiTerent departments; he has two men who write his
letters, and convey messages to Europeans. These men are ill paid.
His Highness employs his Nakhodas (who all speak English)
when transacting business with Europeans, and these men are supposed
to be the Ministers by strangers. Some of the Nakhodas speak French-
IV.—The Imaum is not exactly tributary to any one, but he pays
12,000 dollars a year to the Wahabee Chief of
so ;rtK r "nd Anniif Nujd, Fysul bin Abdoolla bin Saeed, on account
Amount of Tribute. 0 f certain of the tribes in Oman, which it is said
the Wahabee Chief has a right to.
Estimated Value of Gross V.—One year with another, about one hun-
Annual Revenue. dred thousand pounds sterling (^100,000).
YI.—There are no means of ascertaining the boundaries of the
. Imaum's territories, or the estimated area in
and^Est^mated Area in square miles. No maps exist of the Imaum's
Square Miles. dominions, nor is there any person who could
define the boundaries.
yjj J n the Imaum's Arabian territories, the soil is generally sandy
and poor, but black earth exists in some parts,
ofTriratC'S'^eTd in the Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. S o r ravines. Irrigation is mostly
Features of the Country. f rom W ells. The country is composed of sandy
plains, with mountains, and intersected much with ravines or Wadis,
in which the most part of the cultivation is carried on. It is a country
fit for Arabs, and for no other people.
VHI —The date is the chief article ; barley the principal grain ; some
Natural aod Industrial wheat; but little rice. Wheat is exported from
Resources. Muskat, and called Muskat wheat, but it is
brought from Persia. The animals are horses, camels, sheep, and
goats, in great numbers. Fish of great variety, and quantity, of most
excellent quality, are caught all along the coast, and salted, dried, an
largely exported. There are also black cattle, but not numerous; o
small species, but the flesh is excellent. The industrial resources are