Orleans

HireHngs 5. 362. A city of France, in the department of Loiret. Ormus. P. L. 2. 2. (See also Balsara.) A city, now in ruins, on an island at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries it was of great commercial importance, and often mentioned by travelers. For example, we read: “Hormuz being a barren and unhabited Hand, and a Mount aine of Salt, is among the richest Countries of India one of the richest, for the many and great merchandize that come to it from all places of India, and from all Arabia, and from all Persia, even of the Mogores, and from Ru ia and Europe I saw Merchants in it, and from Venice. And so the Inhabiters of Hormuz doe say that all the world is a ring, and Hormuz is the stone of it. Whereby it is commonly said that the Custome house of Hormuz is a channel of Silver which alwaies runneth. The last yeere that I was in Hormuz, having continued there three yeeres, the Officers affirmed to mee that the Custome house did yeeld 150,000 Paradaos to the King of Portugall, besides that which is presumed the Moores and Goazill did steale, which are Officers of the Custome house. And although this Hand yeeldeth no fruit, neither hath water nor victuals, yet it hath great abundance of flesh, bread, rice, and great store of fish, and many and good fruits, whereof it is provided from many places.” {Pilgrimes 2. 1787.) We read in Hakluyt: “Here is a very great trade of all sorts of spices, drugs, cloth of silk, fine tapestry of Persia, great store of silk, which come from the isle of Bahrim, and are the best Note Andrew Marvell’s line: (2. 1. 252.) pearls of all others.” pearls, Jewels more rich than Ormus shows. {Bermudas 20.) Camoens mentions Ormus. {Lusiads 10. 40-1, 101.) The description of Ormus as a “mountain of salt” suggests the description of the ruined in the Persian Gulf. 235