Lime Kilns
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Lime burning was a lucrative industry undertaken by several Arabs who worked 15 kilns. In 1877 a quarterly fee of 3 rupees was paid by each kiln owner to the Municipal Fund.
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The lime, or 'Chunam', as it was called locally, was used principally by the construction industry, and a little for dhow building. The raw material used was coral which came from the northern side of the harbour. The lumps of coral would be put into red-hot kilns into which would be thrown salt-water causing the coral to crumble into a powder.
Fuel for the kilns was in the form of wood which was brought by the camel-load from the Protectorate states or in the form of cinders obtained from the furnaces of the local distilled water condensers.
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The lime was sold by cubic volume per 'farah' which was 1¾ x 1¾ x 1 feet.