'File 35/64 III Minerals in Oman. Madrasai geologists' researches' [‎113v] (235/276)

Marseilles. He has never been to England. Mr. Bayankar told me that he
had recently written to H. Lnheck, Tort, Bombay, whose head office is in
London with branches at Antwerp, Paris, Hamburg and Bremen. He has
acquainted him with his discoveries and had forwarded samples which however,
so Mr. Lubeck informs him, have not reached. He has not received any
satisfactory reply from this gentleman and proposes to go and see him, on
arrival at Bombay.
Mr. Bayankar has had business relations with the following British firms
among others: Bidge-Beedle & Co., Glasgow; J. Everett & Co., Liverpool;
Antwerp Trading Co.; Anglo-Mysore Manganese Trading Co.
With regard to the last named, he informed me that he discovered two
new manganese mines in the Mysore State, which he handed over to the
Company. This Coni|pafty, he states, is managed by a Miss Dawson, who
paid him 5 per cent. Royalty on the product of the mines, sometimes in kind
and sometimes in cash, at the option of the Company.
Mr. Bayankar tells me that he has had some nine to ten years' experience in
corundum and has seen all the Indian corundum workings. He estimates that
about five thousand tons has passed through his hands into the world's market
at prices varying from Rs. 400 to Es. 3,000, per ton during the last eight to
nine years.
4. I was also able to arrive at some idea of what Mr. Bayankar's views
and wishes are as regards his own share and profit in the venture under report.
He states that, so far, no written communications have passed between himself
and His Highness on this subject and I have advised him strongly not to write
for the present and that it would be better for any written communications to
pass through this Consulate. He would be prepared to start a British Indian
Eirm with his own capital for the collection and sale of corundum and he
believes that he is in a better position, owing to his knowledge of the trade, to
supply the corundum market than other competitors.
If it was decided to grant the concession to another Company, he considers
that he should be rewarded for his enterprise and skill in the discovery of the
metal here with a mining Royalty of 5 per cent, in either kind or sale
values.
5. Mr. Bayankar thinks that the prospects in corundum are most rosy.
He calculates that the ore could be supplied f. o, b. at Maskat at an outside
cost of dollars twenty to thirty per ton, packed and ready for transport. He
considers that corundum of this quality should fetch in the market Rs. 150 to
Rs. 200 per ton at very low computation and that there are enough surface
workings to supply twenty-five thousand tons. As regards manganese, this
would be a very speculative venture. It lies a good way from the coast and
carriage alone to the coast would cost dollars 25 per ton.
He is not in a position to say much about lead, until he is allowed to dig,
though he thinks it probable that tin also might be discovered.
He has seen indications of soil that is likely to bear garnets but has so far
failed to discover any garnets.
I understand from him that this is another branch of mining in which he
has been specially interested and in which he has done business.
6. In conclusion, I add as items of information that may possibly prove
intersting that Mr. Bayankar is staying with his companions for the present
in a house opposite the Erench Consul. The house belongs to the well known
arms trader Ali Khan whom, however, Mr. Bayankar tells me, he has never seen.
He obtained the key from Moolla Ibrahim of His Highness' household and does
not know yet what rent he is expected to pay for it, if any. He himself
and Mr. K. Murtha are leaving for Bombay in about three^ weeks'
time with a view to supplying boring machines for the wells at Nakhal of
which mention has already been made in this report Mr. K. Murtha will not
return probably. Indications were not wanting that Mr. K. Murtha had not
altogether given satisfaction. During their absence, Mr. Manji Topan, the
third member of the party, will remain at Maskat.
b. u, t , i.— f. D,—24»1 12 44.