"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٩] (١٧٨٢/١٥٢)

0
W!f
Portugal was still the only European nation represented in the
Persian Gulf, where the Portuguese power had first as we have seen^ been
established in 1507^ and where the Portuguese flag was as yet supreme
at sea. Portuguese fortified Stations existed on the islands of Hormuz
and Bahrain, at Qishm, at Masqat, and probably at other places in
J Onian, the administrative headquarters being Hormuz, which remaned
the chief emporium of trade for a large part of the world. The power of
Portugal, however, had begun to show symptoms of decline. By
some an explanation of this fact has been sought in the "Sixty Years
Captivity" to Spain, which, as already mentioned began in 1580 and
did not end until 1640 ; for the Spanish Government of the day, by
which Portuguese foreign policy was controlled, was centralised, partial
and unwise, and, in accordance with economic theories prevalent at the
time, was inclined to sacrifice every other object to the accumulation of
specie.
The Dutch had not yet, in 1600, made their appearance in the Persian
Gulf; but, emboldened by success in their long struggle for independence
of Spain, they had begun to turn their attention to the East Indies. The
foundations of the Dutch East India Company, not regularly constituted
till 1602, were laid at Amsterdam in 1595 ; and, in 1596 or 1597, there
"came first into India the scourge of the Portuguese pride and covetous-
ness /' in the shape of two Dutch vessels.
Position of
the Portu
guese, at this
time subjecte
of Spain.
Position of
the Dutch.
period are described ; anil the following works of private or semi-official writers contain
useful information with reference to particular incidents : The Three Brothers, anony
mous, 1825, which deals with the proceedings of Sir A, and Sir R. Sherley from 1599
to 1628; Mr. W. Foster's Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe, 1899, for the period 1615-19;
Purchas his Filgrimes, Volume X preprint of 1905), which contains a Relation of
the late Ormuz Susinesse fvotn Monnox's Journal, 1621-22; Herberts Some Yeares
Travels, 1677, relating to Sir D. Cotton's Embassy to Persia in 1627-28; Fryer's
New Account of East India and Persia, 1698, referring to the years 1677-78 ;
and Hamilton's New Account of the East Indies, 1739, based on personal experiences
between 1688 and 1723. Writings of some European travellers, not English, cast
considerable light on special events and situations, among them being ; the Travels
of Pedro Teixeira, English translation 3.902, referring to 1604; the Iravels
of Sig. Pietro della Valle, English translation 1665, for the years 1623-25;
Mandelslo's Voyages Celehres et Bemarquahles, 1727, referring to 1638; and
Tayernier's Travels, English translation of 1684, relating to 1652.
The chief authorities on Portuguese affairs are: Manuel de 1 ariaxy Sousa s
Portugues Asia, English translation by Stevens 1695, bringing events down to
1640; Colonel S, B. Miles' Portuguese in Eastern Arabia, contained in the
Persian Gulf Residency Administration Report for 1884-85 and extending to 1651;
and Mr. F. C. Danvers' Portuguese in India, 1894, covering the whole period.
Malcolm's History of Persia, 1815. Volume I, and Professor E. S. Creasy's
History of the Ottoman Turks, 1856, will be found useful to connect events in
the Persian Gulf with the general course of affairs in Persia and Tuikey.