مطرح - اقتراح لجعلها ميناء لتزويد السفن البخارية باحتياجاتها بدلاً من مسقط" [و‎‎٢] (٥٦/١٦)

MEKORAITDUM re . MUSCAT A1TD MUTTRA
I had only a few hours at luscat on my way out, but had an
opportunity of seeing the political Agent and the director of Customs
aiiG during my convexsation v/itn the latter I gathered that the tr8.de
of Muscat was dwindling.
The town of Muscat is practically deserted, and no business
whatsoever is taking place there.
All the merchants are trading in Muttra, and consequently al
though the cargo is landed at Muscat, there being no caravan route
from there it has to be again re-shipped to Lluttra by boats, in
volving a very heavy expenditure.
I gathered from the Director of Customs that many ports in the
Sultan of Muscat's territory and tov/ns south and within a few miles
of Muscat were being supplied from Dubai. This I mentioned to the
Political Agent who expressed surprise and enquired of a European
who had been travelling in these districts as to this, who confirmed
that such was the case.
The Political Agent stated that the Residency were anxious to
<^1 divert the trade from Dubai, and had talked of opening a port at
Khasub in the Sultan's territory at the entrance of the Persian Gulf.
I gathered however that it is not certain whether the trade oould be
diverted to this place, as it is questionable whether the route into
the interior is practicable for caravans. In any case the population
there is small, and it would take some considerable time to develop
it.
I pointed out to the political Agent that the Sultan by in
sisting ormll cargo being landed at Muscat and then transhipped to
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