The number of vessels employed on these voyages I was unable to ascertain with any degree of exactness: but no number named was less than two thousand; of this a very large proportion are small craft, having but a few ships and brigs. The naval force of the sultan is very respectable in point of numbers, and they are daily becoming better ship sailors.

The officers practise the lunar observations, and possess excellent chronometers. His force is sufficient to give him entire control over all the ports in East Africa, the Red sea, the coast of Abyssinia, and the Persian gulf. He has an abundance of sailors and although he has but a small number of regular troops, yet he can command any number of Bedouin (Bedwin) Arabs he may want, by furnishing them with provisions and clothing. This force consists of between seventy and eighty sail of vessels, carrying from four to seventy-four guns. I have added a statement which shows the names of his largest vessels, with the names of some of the smaller classes: the rate of each: where built, and where stationed in the month of October last, as given by Capt. Seydlin Calfaun, the sultan’s English interpreter and translator, and a naval commander.

Previous to the conclusion of the treaty, American vessels paid generally seven and a half per cent. upon imports, and seven and a half per cent. upon exports, with anchorage money and presents. The governor of the out ports claimed the right of pre-emption in both cases, and they resorted to the most nefarious practices to accumulate wealth.

The commerce of the United States, under the treaty, is entirely freed from all inconvenient restrictions, and pays but one charge, namely five per cent. on all merchandise landed, and it is freed from the charge of pilotage, as every port has pilots which are kept in pay by the sultan.

The currency of Muscat differs materially from that of the Persian gulf, or Africa; it is as follows, viz.: twenty gass-rauz-auz or rauhzee, make one mamoody; one hundred and forty-two pise or pesos, make one Spanish dollar; but it varies from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty;[†] three and a quarter Persian rupees make one Spanish dollar at present; two and a quarter Bombay rupees, (less five pise,) one Spanish dollar; two and a quarter Surat rupees, (less five pise,) one Spanish dollar.

The Spanish doublon is worth from fourteen to sixteen dollars according to weight, but more than fifteen dollars is readily obtained.

The weights of Muscat are as follows, viz.: twenty-four rials make one maund; the custom-house maund is eight and three fourths pounds; the bazar-maund is eight, eight and a fourth, and eight and a half pounds.

The following exhibits a Statement of the Naval Force of the Sultan of Muscat, showing the names of his largest vessels, with some of the smaller classes—the rates of each; where built, and where stationed in the month of October, 1833.

NAMES.RATES.WHERE BUILT.WHERE STATIONED.
Liverpool,74,Bombay,Zanzibar.
Shah Alum,56,Bombay,Zanzibar.
Caroline,40,Ramgoon,Muscat.
Prince of Wales,36,Demaun,Muscat.
Hemingshaw,36,Cochin,Calcutta.
Piedmontese,32,Muscat,Muscat.
Mossafa,24,Cochin,Muscat.
Rahmani,22,Bombay,Muscat.
Fulke,18,Demaun,Bombay.
Soliman Shah,18,Muscat,Muscat.
Curlew, (brig,)12,Bombay,Muscat.
Psyche, (brig,)12,Cochin,Muscat.
Tage, (yacht,)6,Malabar coast,Zanzibar.
Vestal,6,Muscat,Muscat.
Elphinstone,6,Bombay,Bombay.

Also fifty baghelas carrying from eight to eighteen guns, and ten balits carrying from four to six guns. The baghela is a one-masted vessel, from two hundred to three hundred tons. The balit is also a one-masted vessel, from one to two hundred tons. Part of his naval force was employed in convoying vessels up the Persian gulf, some in Africa, &c., &c.