'A Collection of Treaties and Engagements relating to the Persian Gulf Shaikhdoms and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman in force up to the End of 1953' [‎35r] (71/92)

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proposed for ascertaining the value of the goods, the authorities on the part of
the Sultan of Maskat, on an intimation being made to them on the subject, shall
compel the Custom Master to choose one of the two modes for the levy of the
duty.
A rticle 14.
If it shall happen that either the King of the French or the Sultan of Maskat
should be at war with another country, the subjects of the King of the French and
the subjects of the Sultan of Maskat should nevertheless be allowed to trade with,
and to take to, such country, merchandise of every description, except warlike
stores, but they shall not be allowed to enter any port or place actually blockaded
or besieged.
A rticle 15.
Should a vessel under the French flag enter a port in the dominions of the
Sultan of Maskat in distress, the local authorities at such port shall afford all
necessary aid to enable the vessel to refit and to prosecute her voyage; and if any
such vessel should be wrecked on the coasts of the dominions of the Sultan of
Maskat, the authorities on the part of the Sultan of Maskat shall render all the
assistance in their power to recover and deliver over to the owner, or the Consul,
the property that may be saved from such wreck. The same assistance and pro
tection shall be afforded to vessels of the dominions of the Sultan of Maskat, and
property saved therefrom under similar circumstances, in the ports and on the
coasts of the French dominions.
A rticle 16.
If any person not belonging to the Christian nations shall steal any article
from a French vessel, and take it to the dominions of the Sultan of Maskat, it
shall be recovered from the robber and delivered over to the Consul.
A rticle 17.
The French shall be at liberty to hire or erect houses and warehouses at
Zanzibar or anywhere else.
A rticle 18.
Any engagements which may have been entered into previously to this are
null and void, and are not to be acted upon or attended to.
A rticle 19.
The present convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications thereof shall
be exchanged, at Maskat or Zanzibar, as soon as possible, and within the space
of fifteen months from the date hereof.
Dated the 6th Zilkad, Hijree 1260 {corresponding with the 17th November,
1844 A.D.).
MEMORANDUM
On the 4th February, 1846, the ratifications of the foregoing Treaty were
exchanged between His Highness the Imam of Maskat and Commodore
Monsieur Romain Desfosses on the part of the King of the French. Previous to
the exchange of the ratifications, His Highness requested from Commodore
Monsieur Desfosses* an explanation of the precise meaning of Article XVII of
the Treaty who replied that the said Article was considered as having reference
to matters imply and purely of a commercial nature. The exchange of ratifications
then took place. His Highness the Imam previously affixing thereto the following
declarations * —
Declarations written by His Highness the Imam on the foregoing Treaty.
That is correct, that whatsoever is written in Arabic letters (in the Ai abic
language) in the agreement is binding on us.
The writing of the humble Fukeer with his own hand. ^ ^ sult a n .
Vide letter from Captain Hamerton to the Bombay Government, dated the 13th February,
46133 K 2