OUROOMIA, or OOROMIA, the chief town of a district or government of the same name, in Persia, situated on a large
lake, also of the same name, in the province of Azerbaijan. It is an ancient city, which, according to Sir Robert K. Porter, once bore the name of Thebarma; and is mentioned as a place of some consequence by Strabo. It is surrounded with walls and towers, which are at present in a very ruinous state, though, with a shallow ditch, they constitute its only means of defence. It is, however, beautifully situated amidst the most extensive and luxuriant gardens, producing almost every European and Asiatic fruit in the greatest plenty and perfection. The town contains, according to Frazer, about 20,000 inhabitants, who are of disorderly habits, being mostly the immediate retainers of chiefs who, having their property in the neighbourhood, reside in large palaces within the town. The latter have constant feuds with each other, in which their retainers take part; and the governor, who is a chief of the Affshar tribe, being quite unable to restrain them, more murders are committed in the town of Ouroomia than in any other city of Persia. It is sixty miles west of Tabreez. Long. 46. 12. E. Lat. 37. 58. N.