OMAN, An independent sultanate occupying the southeastern end of the peninsula of Arabia. It reaches along the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman. and the Arabian Sea from El Hasa to the Hadramaut region (Map: Asia. F 6). The area is about 80,000 square miles. The boundaries in the interior are very indefinite, the authority of the ruler of Oman being recog nized only over a small portion of the territory nominally embraced in the sultanate. The region along the coast is very mountainous, rising in its highest peaks probably to about 10.000 feet. Behind the mountain chains the country grad ually passes into the great desert of Arabia, The most favorable part of the country is in the central valleys, which are characterized by a temperate climate and rich vegetation. The chief products are dates. which constitute the main article of export, and other fruits. Pearls and mother-of-pearl and fish are also of some commercial importance. The chief port is 1\buseat (q.v.). The exports and imports of Oman amounted in 1900-01 to $1.359,893 and 53,305. 883. respectively. The imports consist of rice, cotton goods, coffee, sugar. silk, arms. ammuni tion. etc.
The population is estimated at 1.500,000. and consists of several tribes of Arab origin, partly nomadic. The negro element. is very numerous. At present Oman is practically under the protee tion of treat Britain. A British resident is sta tioned at Muscat, the capital.
IftsToitY. Muscat was taken by the Portuguese in 1503 and remained in their hands until the middle of the seventeenth century. when the Arabs of the interior secured possession of it. The imams 01' s1111 a /Is of Muscat afterwards made extensive conquests in Eastern Afriea.
Zanziba r. Mombasa, and Qui loa. r /num was at the climax of its pmer and commercial prosperity hi the first half of the nineteenth century, when the authority of the imams or of Aluseat ex tended over the Persian territories of Laristan and Nlogistan, the islands of Kishm. 'Bahrein. and Ormuz, the important town of Bender Abbas, part of the coast of Baluchistan, and a lout! strip of Afriean coastland. including Zanzi bar, Mombasa. and Quiloa. together with the island of Socotra. The present ruling family originated in Yemen and was first established in the imamate in the person of Ahmed ibn Said in 1741. The rise of the Wahabi power in Nedjed (see ARABIA) resulted in considerable loss of territory. In 1856, on the death of Sultan Said, his possessions were divided between his two sons, one receiving the African territories and the other Muscat with the Persian possessions. These last were lost in 1875. Sultan Thuwany, who succeeded in Muscat, was assassinated in 1860 by his sun Selim, who reigned but a short time. and was driven out by his uncle, Seyyid Turki ibn Said. In 1888 the latter was succeeded by his son, Seyyid ibn Turki. The relations of Oman with Great Britain have been most friendly. The power of the Sultan is exercised very little beyond the capital, Muscat, the name of which is therefore probably better known in popular usage than that of the whole State. Consult Sahib-ibn-Razik, History of the Imams and Seyids of Oman, from the Arabic by Badger (London, 1781).