[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 41 # Storia do Mogor 41: HORMUZ ISLAND. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 41 - **Language:** English ### [41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.41) This island was formerly the greatest and most frequented port on the ocean, where dwelt traders to every region in India — men of great wealth — so that a merchant possessing more than a million of patacas \[about £100,000\] was not a man of very great account. Shah 'Abbas considered that by making himself master of Hormuz, and transferring the port to the mainland, lying not over a league from the island, he would be able to draw all this wealth into Persia. But he was frustrated in his object because the traders were afraid of his interference. The island has many hills of salt, and the climate is therefore prejudicial to life. Notwithstanding this, the Persians are so jealous about the island that they do not wish a single European to set foot in it. After we had been in Bandar 'Abbas three days the ambassador ordered me to go to the English factory to speak to the chief, requesting him to send \[36\] a trustworthy person to discuss certain negotiations of great importance. The chief sent to him Mestre Pit (Mr. Pitt), who had acted as page to the English gentleman desirous of speaking to Shah 'Abbas. With him there was a full hour's discussion. Next day the chief himself came with the officials of the factory to visit the ambassador. Offers were made to him to serve him in every way they could. At the time there was an English vessel belonging to a private owner, about to sail for the port of Surrati (Surat). They asked the ambassador to embark in her, as she would be the last vessel to leave Bandar 'Abbas in that monsoon. Then we ate mutton which came from Hormuz, also good and cheap fish caught in the harbour. The water at Bandar 'Abbas is either rain-water or brackish, and of such bad quality that it disorders the bodily humours, and generates worms as long as your arm, which appear on the hands, jaws, and legs. When they begin to show themselves, you must lay hold of them by the head, and pull at them daily, winding them round a hide (? twig) or cloth very slowly. For if they break they turn inwards, causing great pain, and becoming very difficult to cure. For this reason everybody who can do it sends to fetch water by camels from inland, three leagues off, at a place called Hixin. The climate of this port is most noxious by reason of the salt ridges, and of certain hot winds, and the noise of the sea. I noted that many of the inhabitants had defective sight and teeth, and I was informed that on this coast, as far as Arabia and Mecca, they suffered from these ailments by reason of the many dates that they eat; for the larger number of the inhabitants live upon that fruit in addition to fish. - [Previous: 40.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.40.6) - [Next: 42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.42) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.41) · Pramāṇa