As Mocrim king of Lasah refused to pay the tribute which was due to the king of Ormuz for the islands of Bahrayn and Catifa on the coast of Arabia, the king of Ormuz was backward in paying the tribute to the Portuguese, alleging his inability on account of not receiving payment from his vassal.  On this account a force had been already sent against the king of Lasah, accompanied by some Portuguese auxiliaries, but had been unsuccessful.  The king of Ormuz, wishing effectually to humble his vassal, applied to Sequeira for assistance, who consented on purpose to secure the tribute due to the Portuguese.  Accordingly in the year 1521, an armament of 200 vessels belonging to the king of Ormuz, having on board 3000 Arabs and Persians, sailed for Bahrayn under the command of Reis Xarafo or Sharafo, accompanied by seven Portuguese ships with 400 soldiers commanded by Antonio Correa.  On their arrival at Bahrayn, Mocrim was found well prepared for their reception, having 300 Arab horse, 400 Persian archers, 20 Turkish musketeers besides some natives armed with firelocks, and above 11,000 native troops armed with different weapons.  He had besides thrown up strong intrenchments and redoubts, well provided with cannon, and these formidable military preparations were under the charge of experienced commanders.

The Persian Gulf, which intervenes between Arabia and Persia, takes its name from the latter, as the more noble country.  This famous gulf begins at Cape Jasques or Carpela, in lat. 26 deg.  N. and ends at the mouth of the river Euphrates, having many cities, rivers, woods, and islands along its northern or Persian shores.  On the other or Arabian shore, beginning at Cape Mozandan or Musaldon, named Assaborum by the ancients, and ending where it meets the other side at the Euphrates, there are only four towns.  One of these, Catifa or Al Katif, is opposite the island of Bahrayn, where is the pearl-fishery.  This island is 30 leagues in circumference, and seven leagues long, and is 110 leagues from Ormuz.  The principal product of this island is tamarinds, but it has likewise all the other fruits that grow in Spain.  The largest town is of the same name with the island, besides which there are about 300 villages, inhabited by Arabs and Moors[162].  The air is very unhealthy.  The pearls found here, though not in such abundance, are more valuable than those of Ceylon in India, or of Hainan in China.  On the continent of Arabia, opposite to Bahrayn is the city of Lasah[163], of which Mocrim was king.

[Footnote 162:  It is difficult to comprehend the distinction; and perhaps we ought to read Arabs or Moors.—­E.]

[Footnote 163:  Lasah may have been the name of the territory, and perhaps applied likewise to the capital which is named Al Katif in our maps, and the territory Bahrayn.  These are two islands of Bahrayn, one of which from the text appears to have been named Catifa.—­E.]