'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎56] (221/524)

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56 REMARKS ON THE TRIBES, & c .
“These manners were introduced by the merchants belonging to the
ports, who induced foreigners to imitate their affability. Their address,
the regularity of their police, and the variety ot entertainments which
their city afforded, joined to the interests of commerce, invited mer
chants 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 houses prevented any
inconvenience from the heat of the sun. Indian cabinets, ornamented
with gilded vases or China, tilled 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, polite
ness in the men and gallantry in the women, united all their attractions
to make this city the seat of pleasure.
An English traveller, Ralph Filch, who visited this island, describes
it thus :—-
“Ormuz 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, hut only salt; for the water, wood, or victuals, and all things neces
sary, 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 Ormuz. The Portuguese have a castle here which standeth near
unto the sea, wherein there is a Captain for the king of Portugal,
having under him a convenient number of soldiers, whereof some part
remain in the castle and some in the town. In this town are mer
chants of all nations, and many Moors and Gentiles. There is a very
great trade of all sorts of spices, drugs, silk, cloth of silk, fine tapestry
of Persia, great store of pearls, which come from the isle of Bahrein,
and are the best pearls of all others, and many horses of Persia, which
serve all India.”
74. That the island, instead of the present port, was at that time
made the entrepot, was due probably to the circumstance that a fo
reign settlement of merchants preferred to sustain the cost of a double
landing and shipment, rather than run the risk to property and person
incident to a residence on the main land.