Next, at the commencement of the coast of India, is Ormus, a very great kingdom, distant from Goa 500 leagues, near Persia, at the entrance and over against the straits of the Persian Sea. In that sea is a little island (under the altitude of 26 degrees or thereabouts to the north of the equinoctial) of only three leagues circuit, called Ormus, from the town, for the island used to be called Gerun. It is distant about three leagues from the mainland of Persia, and some ten from that of Arabia. The island and town are held and possessed by the Portuguese, who have built a fortress there, good and well garrisoned. This island after Goa is the richest, and has the largest revenues of any in the Indies possessed by the Portuguese, for it is a great mart of merchandise where all goods are landed, principally the wealth of Persia; and besides that, the merchandises of India are brought thither in great quantity for the furnishing of Persia, Syria, and all the Levant.

The merchandises that come thither are all valuable, for it is the staple and landing-place for all goods from Persia, Arabia, Armenia, Turkey, Europe, etc., which are brought thence overland by caravan; likewise all Indian goods are landed there. From Ormus to Goa come, firstly, the fine pearls from the fishery at an island of the Gulf, called Baharen, toward the coast of Arabia beyond Ormus.