THE ISLAND OF ORMUZ.

South Canterbury Times, Volume XV, Issue 2068, 8 November 1879, Page 2

THE ISLAND OF ORMUZ.

If there is any truth in the statement that the English Government contemplate ceding Afghanistan to Persia, and if Persia accepts the cession, it will be a master-stroke of policy on the part of the present British Ministry. The island of Ormuz, which England is to receive in exchange is situated at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, and is about 12 miles in circumference. It resembles when viewed from the sea a mass of rocks and shells violently thrown up from the bottom to the surface of the ocean. It contains a fort, which is in tolerable repair, built on a narrow projecting neck of land; nnd this with a wretched suburb lias a population of not more than 500 persons. The remains of aqueducts and walls on a plan near the suburb, mark the seat of the former, capital. The harbour is sheltered on three sides by land, and has good anchorage ground. A range of intersects the Island from E. to W., and the rocks consist almost entirely of fine crystallised salt, which might be exported inhmited quantities. The geologisal formation of the island indicates the former existence of vocanic action, and sulphur, iron, and copper are found there in large quantities, though very few attempts have as yet been made to apply these mineral riches to any useful purpose. This island, for a long time so inconsiderable but now destined to come into notice again, enjoyed formerly great celebity and importance. It had, owing to its advantageous situation, become, previously to the appearance of the Portuguese in the East, a great emporium, being the centre of the trade of the Persian Gulf and of the contiguous countries. It possessed great wealth, population and prosperity. It was taken by Albuquerque, the Portuguese Viceroy, in 1515 ; and was held by the Portuguese till 1622, when it was wrested from them by Shah Abbas, assisted by an English fleet. The booty acquired by the ceptors on this occassion is said to have amounted to two millions sterling. Subsequently the trade of the island was diverted to Gombroon and other places ; and this once rich and flourishing emporium gradually fell into a state of decay, from which it may now possibly once more arise—if there be any truth in its reported cession to England, —“Morning Herald.”