His charac ter. Abool Futih Zukee Khan is represented, in a short account of the history of these times, to have been a monster of cruelty, destitute of any good quality to counterbalance his vices, and his death even too lenient for his crimes.* The present account by no means authorizes these conclusions; on the contrary, he appears to have been a man of considerable ability; his measures were vigorous, prompt, and decisive; and the energy of his government had already subdued two rebellions. It is true he may be called an usurper; but in a country where a crown has never been possessed in regular descent, how are we to distinguish usurpation from right? In Persia the throne is the inheritance of the sword; and every individual conceives he has a right to advance his pretensions. This fatal error is one of the principal causes of the distracted state of Persia; for as the people are destitute of any prejudice for a particular family, no obstacle is opposed to the delusive hopes of ambition. We find immediately on the death of the Vakeel, who, we may suppose, from the length of his reign, might have secured the succession of his son, that five different chiefs asserted their claims to the throne. Zukee Khan appears to have been resolved on supporting his authority; his untimely, and perhaps unfortunate end, again opened a field to scenes of anarchy, confusion, and bloodshed. The vigour or cruelty of his government secured him either the obedience, or extorted the submission of his subjects; and of whatever crimes he might have been guilty, he could do no more than atone for them by his death. The army declared itself in favour of Abool Futih Khan, by the army. who assembled the principal officers, and consulted with them, whether it would be most adviseable to prosecute their march • See Franklin's Tour, p. 322, who gives a very different account. I have only to oppose written against oral evidence. It would be singular if a Zund was treated better than he deserved against Ulee Moorad Khan, or return to Sheeraz. The governor of Isphahan, and several other nobleman, declared themselves in favour of the former, observing, that he would not only destroy an enemy, but would also secure a rich and populous country; others again urged, that it would be better to return to Sheeraz, which, being the seat of government, and a strong fortress, the possession of it would naturally secure him the submission of the surrounding country. His own wishes seconded this advice; and having secured the person of Ukbur Khan, he gave himself up to the indulgence of the most degrading amusements. Ulee Moorad Khan took advantage of the imbecility of his rival, confirming his authority in the districts of Kashan, Kirmanshah, Berogird, Humudan, Tahran, and Quzween.* marches for A. D. 1779. Sadiq Khan, who still continued at Bum, hearing of the Sadiq Khan late revolutions, determined on returning to Sheeraz. The day Sheeraz. after his arrival, he had an interview with the king, and presented him with the customary tokens of obedience. In private he informed him, that although he was his uncle, and greatly his senior, still it was his intention to shew him the same deference and respect as he had paid his brother. The suspicions which Sadiq Khan's conduct had excited, failed to effect a change in Abool Futih Khan; he still continued the same course; and the folly and weakness of his reign reduced the people to the severest distress. The clamours of the people were not even appeased with a promise of redress, nor were they allowed the satisfaction of pouring forth their complaints. Sadiq Khan endeavoured to effect a reformation in the king's character, but his advice was treated with levity and neglect. A few days subsequent to his deposition, he had signified a wish to deprive Ukbur Khan of his sight, which had been opposed by Sadiq Khan, who sent a party to release him. This was *The principal cities and districts of Irak. + MSS. Deposes Sadiq Khan seizes the government. source of further disgust to Abool Futih Khan, and greatly increased the misunderstanding which prevailed between the uncle and the nephew. While every thing remained in this uncertainty, Sadiq Khan repaired, with his three sons, to one of the doors leading to the king's private apartments, and sent in a message, requesting his attendance. When Abool Futih Khan joined them, he represented, "that sovereigns were the natural protectors of their armies and subjects; that they were compared to the shepherd of a flock, who, if he neglected his charge, exposed it to the ravages of the wolf; that if he was ambitious of reigning, he should support his army and protect his subjects, or, at any rate, commit the management of his government into other hands." Highly incensed at this expostulation, he broke out in violent terms, and said, that if this language was ever repeated, his temerity should meet with the punishment it deserved. Upon this Sadiq Khan ordered his sons to seize the king, which was done, and his eyes put out. His brother underwent a similar fate. Thus one king makes way for another, who becomes the victim of a more successful rival. Humanity may shudder at this account; an account confirmed by the smoking ashes of desolated villages, and by the misery and bloodshed of thousands. Sadiq Khan now seized the reins of government; and, to ensure the affections of the troops, he reviewed them, and paid them their arrears. The first act of his government was to detach a body of thirty thousand horse, and twenty thousand foot, under the command of his son, against Ulee Moorad Khan. At Qumshu* they were opposed by the enemy, and gained an easy victory. Ulee Moorad Khan determined to hazard another engagement, but he discovered that his troops A fortress one hundred miles from Isphahan. were disaffected, and some of his officers even inclined to deliver him into the hands of Ulee Nuqee Khan. He was compelled to secure himself by flight; and departing secretly from Isphahan, he retired to Humudan. Ulee Nuqee Khan had not the sense to repress the elation of victory, his imperious and haughty manners gave extreme disgust to his officers, and entirely estranged the affections from those who had espoused his cause. After halting a month at Isphahan, he prosecuted his march against Ulee Moorad Khan, who, with a small force, determined to oppose him. The two armies soon met, and as A. D. 1780. the nobles, who had taken umbrage at his behaviour, remained inactive, he experienced a severe defeat, and was obliged to fly towards Isphahan. He staid here two days; but finding that Ulee Morad Khan was advancing against him, he continued his flight to Sheeraz. Ulee Moorad Khan did not fail to make the most advantage of this victory; he contrasted the haughty self-sufficiency of his rival, with the courtesy and mildness of his behaviour; and by adding to the comforts of his subjects, he took the most effectual means of securing his own power. conduct of The successful usurpation of Sadiq Khan, instructed him in Profligate the melancholy lesson, that the happiness of man is not entirely his sons. dependent upon himself; and that the misfortunes of life receive some augmentation from dignity of situation. His three sons gave themselves up to a course of the most abandoned profligacy, throwing off all kind of obedience to paternal authority, and reducing the inhabitants, by the enormity of their conduct, to the severest distress. Ukbur Khan, the son of Zukee Khan, resented the indignities they had offered him, and effected his escape from Sheeraz. He was overtaken by a party sent out to pursue him, which he defeated, and pursued his journey to Isphahan. received by Khan. A. D. 1780. Ukbur Khan Ulee Moorad Khan was fully sensible of the services which Ulee Moorad Ukbur Khan might render him, and received him with much attention and distinction. His own wishes were seconded by Ukbur Khan's suggestions, who received orders to levy a body of troops, for the purpose of advancing against Sheeraz. The hope of revenge stimulated his exertions; and in the course of twenty days he had collected a force of ten thousand cavalry. With this body he commenced his march; and two days after Ulee Moorad Khan followed him with a well appointed army. Sadiq Khan received information of this confederacy against Sadiq Khan's him, and sent a large body of troops, under Ulee Nuqee Khan, to oppose the advance under Ukbur Khan. The two armies met, and an engagement commenced, which lasted, with the greatest obstinacy, for four hours, when fortune declared itself in favour of Ukbur Khan, the opposite army breaking and flying towards Sheeraz. Ukbur Khan pursued the fugitives, and pitched his camp within five miles of the city. The loss, in this action, amounted to about three hundred killed and wounded on either side. Defeats army. Inconsider able loss. I may be excused noticing the very small number of men who are said to have been lost in an action which lasted four hours, and which was contested with bravery. I am apt to imagine that the general actions of the Persians are little more than skirmishes with detached parties of horse, and that the slightest advantage decides the fortune of the day. It is inconceivable that two armies, amounting to forty thousand men, should be engaged for four hours, and only suffer a loss of six hundred men. The ingenuity of the moderns has not increased the means of destruction; for the sword, in the hands of a Roman, even a Carthaginian, was as destructive an instrument. as those which have been adopted by modern refinement; and |