Page 72 - Arabian Gulf Intellegence

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30 ORMUS.

Persians at that time caused the greatest part of the merchandize of
Asia to be conveyed to Europe from the ports of Syria and CafTa. At
the time of the arrival of the foreign merchants, Ormus afforded a
more splendid and agreeable scene than any city in the East. Persons
from all parts of the globe exchanged their commodities, and transact­
ed their business, with an air of politeness and attention which are
seldom seen in other places of trade.
“ These manners were introduced by the merchants belonging to the
ports, who induced foreigners to imitate their affability. Their ad­
dress, the regularity of their police, and the variety of entertainments
which their city afforded, joined to the interests of commerce, invited
merchants to make it a place of resort. The pavement of the streets
was covered with mats, and in some places with carpets ; and the
linen awnings which were suspended from the tops of the houses
prevented any inconvenience from the heat of the sun. Indian cabinets,
ornamented with gilded vases, or China filled with flowering shrubs
or aromatic plants, adorned their apartments ; camels, laden with
water, were stationed in the public squares ; Persian wines, perfumes,
and all the delicacies of the table, were furnished in the greatest
abundance ; and they had the music of the East in its highest perfection.
In short, universal opulence and extensive commerce, a refined luxury,
politeness in the men and gallantry in the women, united all their
attractions to make this city the seat of pleasure.”
Ormus is a rugged, hilly island, about ten miles NNE. from Karrack,
and nearly of the same extent. It has not the least verdure on it:
some of the hills are quite white, owing to an incrustation of salt, and
large quantities of rock salt are found on the island. Notwithstanding
its sterility, it was once the emporium of Persian and Indian commerce,
when in the hands of the Portuguese, and is at present held in farm of
the Persian King by the Iraaum of Muskat, who derives a small revenue
from its produce of salt. There are two cisterns of fresh water on its
north-west end. An English traveller, Ralph Filch,* who visited this
island, describes it thus :—
“ Ormus is an island in circuit about five-and-twenty or thirty miles,
and is the driest island in the world, for there is nothing growing on it
but only salt ; for the water, wood, or victuals, and all things necessary,
come out of Persia, which is about twelve miles from thence. All
thereabout is very fruitful, from whence all kinds of victuals are sent
into Ormus. The Portuguese have a castle here, which standeth near
unto the sea, wherein there is a Captain for the King of Portuga ,

. 1583
* See Ralph Filers Travels, Pinkerton’s Collection of Voyages, &c. &c., A. n
to 1591.