Muscat

Muscat, or more correctly MASKAT, capital of the independent state of Oman or Muscat, which occupies the south-eastern corner of Arabia. It stands in a narrow rocky cove that opens out to the Indian Ocean on the one side and on the other forms the exit of a pass leading from the interior of Arabia. It is surrounded by a wall, and defended by forts planted on the rocky heights above. Its streets are narrow and not over clean; in summer the heat is intense; hence Muscat is not a healthy place. Yet the advantages of its situation make it of great importance for the commerce between eastern Arabia, Persia, India, the east coast of Africa, and the Red Sea. Its total trade reaches the value of £1,100,000 annually, the chief exports being pearls and fish, in which its coastal waters are extraordinarily rich, and salt, dates, drugs, dyestuff, horses, and the imports chiefly coffee, rice, sugar, piece-goods, oil, &c. Pop. about 20,000. Although a very ancient place, Muscat remained small and of little importance until the Portuguese took possession of it in 1508. Under their rule, lasting exactly a century and a half, it developed into a prosperous commercial centre. It was subsequently governed by native rulers (imams), who in the 17th century succeeded the Portuguese also as masters of Zanzibar and some places on the east coast of Africa. These African possessions were, however, wrested from the reigning imam of Muscat by an illegitimate son in 1856.