LINGER, a port of Persia on the shores of the Persian gulf in 33' N., 53' E., about 30o m. S.E. of Bushire ; with the tract immediately around it, it forms part of the administrative dis trict of the "Gulf Ports." The old port was at Kung, seven m. E. where the Portuguese had a "factory" and exercised political and commercial influence long after the loss of Hormuz (q.v.) until 1711. During the reign of the Zand dynasty, Lingeh was seized by Arabs from Ras-al-Khaimah who retained possession till 1887 when the Persian Government reestablished their authority. The population is estimated at 8,000 during the summer rising to 12,000 after the return of the pearling fleet in winter. The town, comparatively well built and of pleasing appearance from the sea, extends for about a mile along the shore but, with the exception of an extensive belt of date palms, the surroundings are extra ordinarily arid and the hills at the back of the town, which rise to 1,200 metres, render communications with Lar and the hinter land difficult. There is no harbour for larger vessels and the an chorage is about three-quarters of a mile off-shore in 5 fathoms.
Lingeh has a good reputation for boat-building and repairing. At one time it rivalled Bahrein as a centre for the collection and export of pearls ; but the headquarters of the trade is now on the Arabian coast. The tonnage of trade in 1925-26 was 14,906, then showing an upward tendency, and the number of steam-vessels calling was 96, of which 90 were British. Exports were fresh and dried fruits, carpets, skins, flax, tobacco, gum and assafoetida, chiefly to India. Steamers of the British India Steam Navigation Company call fortnightly in each direction. There is a wireless station which communicates with the rest of the world through Henjam.
Pelly, "Report on the Persian Gulf," in the Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society (vol. xvii., 1863), and "A visit to Lingah" in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society (vol. xxxiv., 1864) ; Lord Curzon, Persia, vol. ii. (2 vols., 1892) ; The Persian Gulf Pilot (published by the Admiralty, Hydrographic Dept., 7th ed. 1924). (P. Z. C.)