'Travels in Assyria, Media, and Persia, including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of Persepolis, and journey from thence by Shiraz and Shapoor to the sea-shore. Description of Bussorah, Bushire, Bahrein, Ormuz, and Muscat, narrative of an expedition against the pirates of the Persian Gulf, with illustrations of the voyage of Nearchus, and passage by the Arabian Sea to Bombay.' [‎521] (552/582)

HISTORY OF MUSCAT.
521
lost to them, the Portuguese endeavoured to concentrate their
commerce in Muscat, of which they still retained possession.
The Abbe Raynal states, that all their efforts to effect this were
fruitless, as navigators took the route of Bunder Abassi, or Gon-
broon, near to Ormuz, on the continent of Persia. He says, that
every one dreaded the haughtiness of these ancient tyrants of
India, and that there was no longer any confidence in their good
faith, so that no other vessels arrived at their port of Muscat,
than such as they conducted there themselves. A more modern
writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. says, however, that after the destruction of Ormuz, Mus
cat became the principal mart of this part of the world, and
thereby produced very great advantages to the crown of Portugal,
exclusive of the prodigious private fortunes made by individuals.
During that time, continues the same writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. , this city was very
much improved ; for, besides regular fortifications, they erected
a stately church, a noble college, and many other public struc
tures, as well as very fine stone houses, in which the merchants
resided, and those who by the management of public affairs had
acquired fortunes to live at their ease. # The traditions of the
people here are more conformable to the Abbe's account, though it
is true that their vanity would naturally lead them to prefer this
to the other, if they had to make a choice between them. This
received the Portuguese in a friendly manner, and had very honourably given them notice to
retire, when the troops of Ormuz arrived; but he was slain during the first confusion, with
out being known.— Manuel dt Faria y Sousa, vol. vi. part 2, b. 3. c. 1. s. 5.
The Portuguese Government of Ormuz and its dependencies was however so oppressive,
that they constantly laid the inhabitants under undue exactions, and behaved to them other
wise with such insolence and violence, as even to force from them their wives and daughters.
Unable to endure these oppressions, the inhabitants of Ormuz, and its dependencies formed a
conspiracy against the Portuguese^ and broke out into an open insurrection against them sud
denly at Ormuz, Bahrein, Muscat, Kuriat, and Zcar, all in one night, by previous concert,
and by a private order from their King. The attack was so sudden and well-concerted, that
above one hundred and twenty of the Portuguese were slain on that night; and one Rny
Boto was put to the torture by the Moors, in defence of the Faith.-ZM. vol. vi. p. 192.
part 2. b. 3. c. 1. sec. 6.
* Milburn's Oriental Commerce, vol. i. p. 114.
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