or Maskat, a city and seaport of Arabia, capital of Oman, is situated at the head of a small cove on the Indian Ocean, in N. Lat. 23° 38', E. Long. 58° 42'. It is built along the shore in the form of a horse-shoe, and is surrounded by steep hills, through which it communicates with the interior by only one pass. These hills are occupied by a circle of forts, which defend the town, and, along with the domes and minarets of the mosques, present a very fine appearance when seen from the sea. The interior of the city, however, is very far from bearing out the impression which a distant view produces on the traveller; most of the houses being mere mat-built huts; and even the better class, of which there are a few, being seldom more than one storey in height. The streets are very narrow, and partly shaded from the sun by mats of palm-leaves laid across from roof to roof; and the numerous and generally crowded bazaars are extremely dirty. The principal buildings in Muscat are the residences of the imam, of the governor, and of some of the other public officers. The heat in the town is extreme, in consequence of its being surrounded by bare rocks; the temperature is generally as high as 90° in the shade. The harbour is very good, being sheltered from every wind except the north; but with some winds it is not easy for vessels to enter. A little to the W. of Muscat is another bay, less sheltered, which opens to the N.E., and on which the town of Matarah stands. The climate here is more temperate; and here many of the rich merchants of Muscat fix their residence. Muscat derives importance from its natural strength and defences, from its excellent harbour, and from its commanding position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. The surrounding country is dry and barren; and the inhabitants depend principally on trade for their means of subsistence. The manufactures are few, consisting chiefly of sugar and coarse cloth. An extensive trade is carried on through Muscat between Arabia, Persia, and India. Cloth and corn are Muscat, the principal articles of import, and the annual value of these is estimated at more than L600,000. The exports consist of dates and madder, which are sent to India; sharks' fins to China; salt fish, horses, asses, hides, &c. Commercial transactions are here carried on principally by means of bullion and pearls. The harbour abounds in fish, and pearls may be obtained in the gulf not very far off; but the fishery has been for a considerable time neglected.

The inhabitants of Muscat are a very mixed race, consisting of Arabs, Persians, Hindus, Syrians, Koords, Afghans, Belooches, &c.; and the prevailing language is a sort of corrupt Hindustance, the use of the Arabic being confined to the native Arabs. The Sultan of Oman, whose capital is Muscat, is generally known by the ecclesiastical title of Imaum or Imam of Muscat; and his dependencies extend along the shores of Arabia and Africa as far south as Zanzibar. The present ruler ascended the throne, at the age of sixteen, in 1803; his father having been killed in 1802 by the pirates who then infested the Persian Gulf; and his uncle, who assumed the power as regent, having been murdered the year after. The beginning of his reign was disturbed by the pirates and by the Arab tribe of Beni-boo-Ali, who joined with them in attempting to introduce by force the doctrines of the Wahabee sect of Mohammadanism. The British government of Bombay, being desirous of suppressing the piracy that was carried on in the Gulf, made common cause with the Imaum against his enemies; and the result was, that the pirates were subdued in 1820, and the Arabs in 1822. Being thus in secure possession of his dominions at home, the Imaum turned his attention to his more distant possessions; but those who lived on the mainland refused to submit to his authority, and retired from the coast when he attempted to reduce them to subjection; so that all his dependencies, with the exception of the islands of Mombas and Zanzibar, are now merely nominally subject to his authority. No prince in the East is more highly esteemed than the Imaum of Muscat. The liberality of his government, and the protection and toleration which he affords to merchants of all nations and of all religions, have induced very many from different countries to settle in his capital. He has a considerable fleet, which is chiefly employed in commerce. He continues in alliance with the British government, and a British consul resides at Muscat. Under the sway of the Imaum the country is rapidly rising in wealth, commerce, and civilization. Pop. of Muscat, together with Matarah, variously estimated from 25,000 to 60,000.