'Some years travels into divers parts of Africa, and Asia the great. Describing more particularly the empires of Persia and Industan: interwoven with such remarkable occurrences as hapned in those parts during these later times. As also, many other rich and famous kingdoms in the oriental India, with the isles adjacent. Severally relating their religion, language, customs and habit: as also proper observations concerning them.' [‎106] (127/448)

io6
Ormus. Carmania
veilers from all parts of the World, but by reafon of its marine power derived from Goa
the Metropolis of the Vortugiiez, jm India , gave Laws to all the -neighbouring Potentates.
So that fimply confidered, albeit the Ifie had little or nothing confiderable.in it felf,the City
neverthelefs being furnifhed from molt parts of the Orient abounded with all things* re-
quifite, and was capacitated to fupply other parts with what was deiirable either for the
belly or eye. Such was the excellency of the fcituation of the place for commerce, fuch
the induitry and commendable ingenuity of the Portugal j who without ollentation might
fay, Qua regio in t err is noflri non flena lab oris ? and to give them their due, from whole
atchievements, what civilized People are there that have not derived fome advantage ?
The City it felf was not great but compad, and large enough though the ftreets were
narrow, the better to evade the heat *, which in the Summer feafon by being fo near the
perpendicular glances of the Sun, and inflamed by the fait and fulphur of the earth, (the
main compofition of the Ifle) Sol in Coelo & Sal in Terr a fo difplaying their properties as
indeed renders this place as torrid and intolerable to live in during the Summer Seafon,
as any other part of the Univerfe. For the heat of the Sun rages molt when and where
it meets a fubjed, molt capable as this is j which occaiioned the inhabitants to fit and
fleep in troughs filled with Rain-water preferved in jarrs and tanks, ufually falling in
June, July , and Juguji , in abundance, the whole Ifle not affording one Spring of
fweet water. Salt fo predominates, which I have feen refembling cryltal. And feeing
Salt (as Philofophy teaches) is thefirft rudiment of life, & omnia fapit, it needs mult be
here as elfewhere valuable. For belldes the Silver4hining-fand and a little mountain,
one half being a mineral of fulphur, the other of fait, the Ille has nothing elfe worth
the confideration *, Infula-y cum nihil omnino profert, quo vet homines ali vet ornari pojfmt,
tmtU tamen fruBihm & frugibm & cihis atque divitiis affinity ut vix nlla Kegio omnibus rebus
magis ahmdaty qua- ad viUum & elegantiam vita pertinent- NulU namque fmt vita delicU
v'd in Arabia velPerfide velin India vel quacmque alia Regione in qua Naves in portws JrjfuU
invehantur, qua non omnes Terra opes in earn infer unt. It a fit y ut cum nihil ex feipfa gignat,
mult is tamen Regiombrn opimis jrerum omnium ahundantia Praferatur , &c. Olorius vita
Eman. R. P.
The Ifle hath two Havens, one in the Eall, the other in the Weft parts of the Ifland.
Towards the middle of the Ifle is a little Hill which gives very delightful proiped *, on
one fide whereof there is ftore of Sulphur, and no lefs ftore of Salt upon the other. And
that there are Mountains of Salt elfewhere is reported by feveral Writers, Ilhall only
vouch Marin. Siculm who averrs that in fome part of Spain there are whole Hills of na-
tural Salt. To return. From the advantagious fcituation of this Ifle and City otOrmus
tor Commerce, the laborious Portugal brought it to that perfedion as it became the
Staple and Glory of the Eaftern World. Secured indeed by many natural props,
0 ? ^^ s / 0 ^ a ^ dm SWes and Towns to furnilh her, as Balfora, Larac (ALgillu
of old; Ktjhmyyny fome called Quexome or Broitt) Keys or ^mlfle- (Gulfar in Ptolo-
my^) Ange^ Ahron, Hehtr, Andrew, (ov los or Carichi, Baharem
(Icara in Party) Doz.aro,Jafques, Kofiack,, and others.
qua mulH & frettofi umcnes gigrnnmr, in Ptolemy called So as to the Eve of
Manno place could be more offenfive ordefenfive, feveral garrifons of the Portugals
bemgeonftantly maintained in thefelflands: Yet when the God of Nature had decreed
anune, it could not be withftood, but was in fome degree miraculouflv effedted vea
atfucha time when they leaft of all fufpeited it. The hotfes within were exceedin-nS!
lyfurmlhed with gilded leather, and with/«<&» and rarities •, the was
rich and beautifu-, theChurches fplendid within, and both within and without The
Caftle fo regularly built and fo well fortified with deep trenches, counKrfcam and
theOrteu? 31106 COmmandinS b0th Cit y and th « none exceeded it through all
A 11 ^ ^9 r J ; 'l e " am ®' albeit by that it now bears it has been known thefe ooo vears ne
verthelefs I find it has had feveral other nasies well known to AntiquU L that of
Organaiai GmttoFamnm, of Necrokin to ZamrU to the Tartar, 0 ? vm to
Theuems md forcBa to Niger : Yet the prefent name without much variation was known
fn 7W W . 'Z 1 j 13 1 ' dejud. callsit Orm^a- to and ^Zl
to^W for in the degree of 24 he places the Town upon the cmfnent
OnrilandTtr/tfi P^c T eTh Xofivout of Movyfim, it is the fame Ifie where when called
wfs LrirfTa^erbTe to S^rSr ^ had itS denomi:!ation)