306 
when they enter the Arabian gulf meet with a south or south-west 
wind, and thus complete the voyage in less than a year.” 
The sight of Mirzee recalled to mind its former importance in 
the oriental commerce: nothing can be more clear or satisfactory, 
than Pliny’s account of the trade to Musiris; and Arrian, describ- 
ing the imports from the Arabian gulf, at that port, says they were 
much the same as those I have already mentioned at Surat; but 
as it lay nearer to the eastern parts of India, and seems to have 
had much communication with them, the commodities exported 
from it were more numerous and more valuable. He specifies 
particularly, pearls in great abundance, and of extraordinary beauty; 
a variety of silk stuffs, rich perfumes, tortoise-shell, different kinds 
of transparent gems, especially diamonds; and pepper in large 
quantities, and of the best quality. 
After leaving Mirzee and Barcelore, there was nothing worthy 
of observation, until we passed Fortified Island, a little to the 
northward of Onore; it is about a mile in circumference, rocky, 
barren, and so strong both by nature and art, as to be deemed 
impregnable: it then belonged to the nabob Hyder Ally Caun, as 
did Onore, and all the adjoining territory. 
Passing Fortified Island, we anchored off Onore, or Honawera , 
as it is called by the natives: the fort was situated on a rising 
ground, near a small town of indifferent houses; the best was the 
English factory, where two of the Company’s servants resided, to 
purchase pepper and sandal-wood, for the English and Chinese 
markets: a considerable private trade was carried on with Bombay 
and the northern ports, in betel-nuts, and other articles. 
Onore river, or rather a salt lake, is navigable at spring-tides 
