Chapter REGULATION PROVINCES to RESHIRE of R by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

RESHIRE, n.p. Rishihr. A place on the north coast of the Persian Gulf, some 5 or 6 miles east of the modern port of Bushire (q.v.). The present village is insignificant, but it is on the site of a very ancient city, which continued to be a port of some consequence down to the end of the 16th century. I do not doubt that this is the place intended by Reyxel in the quotation from A. Nunes under Dubber. The spelling Raxet in Barros below is no doubt a clerical error for Raxel. c. 1340.—“Rishihr.… This city built by Lohrasp, was rebuilt by Shapur son of Ardeshir Babegan; it is of medium size, on the shore of the sea. The climate is very hot and unhealthy.… The inhabitants generally devote themselves to sea- trade, but poor and feeble that they are, they live chiefly in dependence on the merchants of other countries. Dates and the cloths called Rischihri are the chief productions.”—Hamdalla Mastufi, quoted in Barbier de Meynard, Dict. de la Perse.

1514.—“And thereupon Pero Dalboquerque sailed away…and entered through the straits of the Persian sea, and explored all the harbours, islands, and villages which are contained in it…and when he was as far advanced as Bárem, the winds being now westerly—he tacked about, and stood along in the tack for a two days voyage, and reached Raxel, where he found Mirbuzaca, Captain of the Xeque Ismail, (Shah Ismail Sufi, of Persia), who had captured 20 tarradas from a Captain of the King of Ormuz.”—Alboquerque, Hak. Soc. iv. 114–115.

„ “On the Persian side (of the Gulf) is the Province of Raxel, which contains many villages and fortresses along the sea, engaged in a flourishing trade.”—Ibid. 186–7.

1534.—“And at this time insurrection was made by the King of Raxel, (which is a city on the coast of Persia); who was a vassal of the King of Ormuz, so the latter King sought help from the Captain of the Castle, Antonio da Silveira. And he sent down Jorge de Crasto with a galliot and two foists and 100 men, all well equipt, and good musketeers; and bade him tell the King of Raxel that he must give up the fleet which he kept at sea for the purpose of plundering, and must return to his allegiance to the K. of Ormuz.”—Correa, iii. 557.

1553.—“…And Francisco de Gouvea arrived at the port of the city of Raxet, and having anchored, was forthwith visited by a Moor on the King’s part, with refreshments and compliments, and a message that…he would make peace with us, and submit to the King of Ormuz.”—Barros, IV. iv. 26.

1554.—“Reyxel.” See under DUBBER, as above.

1600.—“Reformados y proueydos en Harmuz de lo necessario, nos tornamos a partir…fuymos esta vez por fuera de la isla Queixiome (see KISHM) corriendo la misma costa, como de la primera, passamos…mas adelante la fortaleza de Rexel, celebre por el mucho y perfetto pan y frutos, que su territorio produze.”—Teixeira, Viage, 70.

1856.—“48 hours sufficed to put the troops in motion northwards, the ships of war, led by the Admiral, advancing along the coast to their support. This was on the morning of the 9th, and by noon the enemy was observed to be in force in the village of Reshire. Here amidst the ruins of old houses, garden-walls, and steep ravines, they occupied a formidable position; but notwithstanding their firmness, wall after wall was surmounted, and finally they were driven from their last defence (the old fort of Reshire) bordering on the cliffs at the margin of the sea.”—Despatch in Lowe’s H. of the Indian Navy, ii. 346.