Travels in India (Tavernier) 31.1.7

31.1.7

The third Government was that of Hormuz, on account of its great trade, and of the dues which all vessels had to pay, whether entering or leaving the Persian Gulf. The Governor of Hormuz also levied considerable dues from those who were going to the island of Bahrein to the pearl fishery, and if they did not obtain a passport from him he sent their vessels to the bottom by means of his galeasses. The Persians receive this tax at present with the English, who share a small part of it, as I have said in my accounts of Persia; but although they treat the merchants roughly, nevertheless they do not derive from this revenue nearly as much as the Portuguese did. It is the same with the Dutch at Malacca, who experience difficulty in raising sufficient to pay for the garrison which they keep there.