Ormus, Province
1652. Cosmographie in four bookes by Peter Heylyn.
ORMUS, not so much memorable for the greatness, as the wealth, the conveniency of the situation of it, is an Iland situate in the entrance of the Persian Gulf: commanding not long since over some part of the Continent of Carmania, and some few Towns of Arabia Felix, and most of the Ilands of the Bay. And therefore before we come to speak of the Isle it self, we must take a brief survey of the Sea or Bay called Sinus Persicus, according to our method in other places.
SINVS PERSICVS, the Gulf or Bay of Persia, so famous, so full of Ilands, and so much frequented (I use the words of Ammianus Marcellinus) beginneth at Harmozonta, (the name which Prolomy calls Armuza) a Cape or Promontory of Carmania, from which unto a Cape or foreland of Arabia Feltx, which the Inhabitants call Maces, the passage is so strait and narrow, that one may very easily see to the opposite shore. The Strait once passed, the Bay beginneth to open and inlarge it self, as farre at the City of Teredon (now called Balsora) where Euphrates after many downfalls is lost in the Sea. The whole Gulf measured by the shores of Orbicular form, in compass 20000 Furlongs, (or 2500 Italian miles) in all the coasts and sides whereof the Villages and Towns stand exceeding thick, affording frequent passage to and fro for shipping. So farre, and to this purpose he. To which description of his, so exact and punctual, our late Navigations have not added much; but the change of names: the whole Bay being now called Mare Elkariffe, and the entrances thereunto the Streits of Balsora; these last so called because they opened the way to the Town of Balsora the most noted Empory of those parts in the times foregoing.
Chief Isles hereof, besides those on the Arabian shore, of which we have already spoken, are, 1. Taxiana, on the coast of Susiana. 2. Tabiana. 3. Sopththa, and 4. Alexandri, or the Isle of Alexander, on the shores of Persis. Of which that which is called Sopththa, seems to take name from Sabta the sonne of Chus, planted upon the opposite shore of Arabia Felix, and therein giving name to the City of Sapthta, which we find in Ptolomy: And finally joying to Carmania, there are the Ilands called 5. Sagdana, the chief Town whereof was antiently named Miltus; and 6. Vorochtha, fituate at the very mouth of the Straits, now called ORMVS, by the name of the Town and Promontory of Armuza, in Carmania, neer adjoyning to it, and unto which it did in former times belong.
This Iland situate as is said at the mouth of the Gulf or Bay of Persia, is in compass about 20 miles, stony, and full of rocks, in a manner barren of all necessaries except salt, wherewith their very Rocks are covered, and of salt-stones many houses built. So destiture of all things fitting for the life of man, that the Inhabitants had all their victuals, even the very water which they drank, from some of the adjoying Countries. The air so hot in time of Summer, that the people rest themselves in caves, covered over with wood, where they stand or sit in water up to the chinne: and have loop-holes in the tops of their houses to let in the wind. Which notwithstanding, in regard of the situation, it was of late one of the richest Empories in all the world, the wealth of Persia and East-India being brought hither, and conveyed hence up by water to the River Euphrates, and so by boats or on camels backs, to Aleppo, Alexandretta, Tripolis; from whence dispessed into all the Countries on the Mediterranean, and to some beyond.
The people hereof in their persons, habit, and Religion, participate somewhat of the Arabians, but most of the Persians. Mahometans for the most part of the Saphian Sect: the rest, but few in number, of the Christian faith, to which converted by the preachings of Father Gasper, a Portugal Jesuite; since the setling of that Nation there.
The chief and onely City was of the same name with the Iland, founded some seven hundred years a goe by one Mahomet Dranku, descended from the Kings of Saba, in Arabia Felix, who with many families of the Saboeans passed over the Straits into Carmania, and the Isles adjoyning, and liking the situation of this Iland, built this City in it, which he called Ormus, or Armuzium, according to the name of the Town and Promontory upon which it heth. The City seated at one end of the Isle; about 2 miles in compass: well built, and adorned with a fair market place, some Churches, and a well-fortisied Castle furnished with all necessaries to maintain a Siege. By reason of its wealth and resort of Merchants, grown to such esteem, that it gave occasion to this Distick,
Si terrarum Orbis quaqua patet, annulus esset,
Illius Ormusium gemmadecus{que} foret.
That is to say,
Were all the World a Ring, this Isle alone
Might of that Ring be thought to be the Stone.
It was first under its own King, whose dominion extended also into some part of the Continent on either side, and over all the rest of the Ilands within the Gulf. His Revenue of no great yearly value till the coming of the Portugoels hither, by whom it was discovered under the conduct of Albukerque, Anno 1506. Who having fortified some part of it for their own desence, and made it the Staple of their trade for the Indian Merchandise, so enriched the same, that the Revenue of those Kings (though Vassals and Tributaries to the Portugoels) amounted to 14000 Seriffs yearly. In this flourishing state it stood till the year 1622. when Abas the Sultan of Persia having received some affront at the hands of the Portugueze, or desuous to remove the trade of Ormuz to some Port of his own; gave order to Emangoly Chawn, the Duke of Shiras, to laysrege unto it, with an Army of 15000 men. Who seeing no hopes of mastering it by his land-forces only, furnished himself with the ships and Cannon of some English Merchants, to whom he promised many things which he never performed. For being once master of the City he destroyed it utterly, removing the Ordinance to Lar, the wealth thereof to his own treasurie of Shiras, the materials of the houses to Gombroon spoken of before: the Portugueze, and Christian natives passing over unto Musbakat in Arabia Felix. Since which time though the English Captains that adventured in it, were disappointed of the spoyl which they did expect: yet so much honour hath been given by the King of Persia to the English Nation, that their Agent who resideth at Gombroon takes custome of all strangers which do trafick thither.