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Mirkhond, when we come to consider the exploits of Gushstap, the 

 Darius Hystaspes of the Greeks, in India. Our present concern is 

 with the Tartars, whose first king, Oghuz Khan, we left, in a former 

 chapter, at a period so early as that of Hushang, the grandson of 

 Cauimaras, over-running with a vast army both Iran and the north of 

 India ; and, in the same character of invader and plunderer, we are 

 now to introduce its next most powerful monarch, AFRASIAB, a 

 direct, and not very distant, descendant from Tur, fixed by Jones 

 at very near the year 800 before Christ. Afrasiab was probably the 

 Phraortes and Aphraortes, mentioned by classical writers of the 

 ancient Median histories ; for, he seems to have poured his victorious 

 armies over all the Higher Asia ; and Media, in that general subjuga- 

 tion of its monarchs, might have also fallen under his dominion. 

 Afrasiab, determined to assert his presumed right to the crown of 

 Iran, passed the Oxus with a formidable army, attacked and defeated 

 Nuear, or Nudar, eighth prince of the Pishdadian dynasty, and, with 

 the ferocity of a real Tartar, killing the vanquished monarch with 

 his own hand, mounted his vacant throne, on which he reigned 

 twelve years ; but, at the end of that period, was expelled by the 

 vigorous exertions of Zalzer, the prince with golden hair, governor of 

 the province of Segestan, and father of the renowned Rostam*. 



Afrasiab, thus expelled Iran by Zalzer, assisted by Rostam, his 

 son, then but a youth, neglected no opportunity of harassing the 

 Persian empire under the two weak princes that succeeded to its 

 throne. At length Caicobad, the first monarch of the Caianian 

 dynasty, so called from CAi,a word signifying the great king, and 

 the Cyaxares of the Greeks, under their joint protection, assumed 

 its sceptre and restored its ancient splendor. With Rostam, now 



mature in years and wisdom, for his general, he marched into the 



. 



* Short Hist, of Persia, p. 44, and D'Herbelor, under the article Naudhar. 



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