Gulph of Persia.] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



95 



about 20 leagues E. by N. and W. by S. At the E. end, opposite to a small 

 island, named Larek, or Laredsh, is the town of Kishm, in latitude 26° 57' 

 N., longitude 56* 24$' E,, which is considerable, well inhabited, walled round, 

 including a small oblong fort. This island produces large quantities of 

 wheat and grain, and was formerly the granary of Ormus. 



ORMUS, or HORMUZ.— This little island, which is not more than 

 G miles long, and about 4 broad, stands within 7 miles of the continent, 

 in latitude 27° 7 N., longitude 56° 37' E., nearly opposite to Gombroon, 

 and was once one of the richest marts in the east The Portuguese obtained 

 possession of it in 1514, but were afterwards expelled by the Persians, 

 assisted by the English. After it once fell into the hands of the Persians, 

 the place was quickly ruined, and the trade transferred to Gombroon. A 

 garrison was kept in the citadel for some time ; but by degrees that has 

 fallen to ruin, and the island is nearly deserted : scarcely the smallest re- 

 mains are now left to prove that this was once a place of such great conse- 

 quence, and the principal magazine of the Indian commerce. 



Trahe. — The only natural productions of the island are sulphur, salt, 

 and red earth, for which articles vessels come occasionally. The black 

 shining sand of Ormus is much esteemed in India. 



Refreshments. — There are said to be two cisterns or tanks of fresh 

 water on the N. W. end of H 



GOMBROON, or BE* A ABASSI.— This town, formerly so 

 flourishing, now reduced to a fishing town, is situated on the main, nearly 

 opposite Ormus, in latitude 27° 13 N., and about 6 leagues to the N. of the 

 E. end of Kishma Island. There is good anchorage in 3§ fathoms, mud, at 

 low water, spring-tides ; the town bearing N. 15° W., distant 3 miles. 



Trade is at present trifling ; the articles similar to those enumerated 

 under Bushire ; but scarcely one vessel in a season calls here. 



Con-fs. — Accounts are kept in mamoodies current, of 20 gassas ; also 

 in shakees of 10 coz, or pice. 



A toman contains 100 mamoodies ; a new abassee, 2 mamoodies or 4 

 shakees or shatreas ; a shakee, 10 coz or cozbaugues, a small copper coin. 

 The shakees are imaginary money, in which bargains are made ; the returns 

 for goods, shewing 7 or 8 per cent, for the exchange, are generally made in 

 abassees. 



A mamoodie is to contain f silver and \ copper: 100 mamoodies, 

 coined at Avesa, in Chusistan, weigh 71^ mussals, or miscals, equal to 

 5136 English grains. Hence a mamoodie contains 20] grains of fine silver; 

 100 being worth about 24s., or nearly 3d. each. 



