MMUS., or more properly 1101211174 an island at the entrance of the Persian Gulf, is about ten miles from the Persian coast, and about twelve miles in circumference. It is a mere 'barren rock, without vegetation and without soil. Its conical shape and the isolated position of the numerous small hills of which the island consists lead the spectator to attribute its origin to volcanic agency. The rugged hills bich line the eastern ahem of the island are covered to a considerable distance from their base with an incrustation of salt, which in some places is as transparent as lee. In other places the surface is covered with a thin layer of dusky-red coloured earth, which owes its colonr to oxide of iron, with which the whole surface of the island is impregnate. As the island contains no fresh-water springs the inhabitants use the rain-water collected in tank", which were con atrncted Above 300 years ago. There is exoellent on the north-eastern short, opposite the town. Tho fortress is about 300 yards from the shore, on a projecting point of land, which is separated from the island by a moat On the plain which stretches from it to the hills are the ruins of the once famous town of Hormuz.
The Imam of Muskat has possession of the island. He derives a revenue from the salt, which is exported in large quantities.
Albuquerque took possession of Hormuz in 1507, and of the town which was then on it, with the view of preventing the Arabs from Pending aid to the petty sovereigns on the coast of Malabar, with whom they carried on a lucrative commerce. The Portuguese made Ormuz the deposit of all kinds of Indian goods, and in a short time a populous and rich commercial town rose upon it. The buildings covered a space 3 miles in length along the tree-shore and 2 miles in width. The town contained 4000 houses and 40,000 inhabitants, and its commercial relations extended over all Persia and Mesopotamia to Bokhara and Samarkand In Turkiatan. In 1622 Shah Abbtis, assisted by the English, took Hormuz from the Portuguese, demolished the town, and transferred its commerce to GoManooN.