216 The P e r s i a n Travels Book V. 



to make head againlt him. Thefe two haughty fpirits would not give an inch one 

 to another : and both equally ftrove topoflefs the Kings favour, to hate thedifi 

 pofal of Affairs. Mit-Tchekar-Bajhi, who had brought Mahomet Beg into Fa- 

 vour, being the elder pretended a refpect due to his years, and Mahomet Ben p re _ 

 tended more due from him by reafon of his place. During this conteft ran a re _ 

 port of a rebellion upon Georgia fide. Whereupon the Athemadoulet perfwaded 

 the King to fend Mir-Tchekar-Bajhi, lately made Koular Agaji or General of the 

 Slaves toward Georgia, that fo he might remove his Rival from Court. The Fa- 

 vourite fets forward with a flying Gamp, but not finding any Enemy that oppos'd 

 him, wrote back to the King that he law no appearance of an Enemy, and that 

 therefore it was a needlels thing to tire the Souldiers in a Country where there 

 was no face of War, and begg'd his Ma jetties leave to return. The Athcmadotdet 

 on the other fide labour' d to hinder his return by preaching to the King the ad- 

 vantages of the ftay of thofe forces in thofe parts. 



In this interim the Vsbek^Tartars had made inroads upon the Frontiers of Ct- 

 rajfan, and had flain feveral of Manoutcbekj people,who was governor of the Pro- 

 vince. Mahomet Beg who was his Kinfman, gave the King to underftand that the 

 Kan of Corajfan had behav'd himfelf valiantly, but conceal'd the defeat of the 

 Kan. On the other fide the Koular Agajiiem Letter upon Letter to the King 

 but perceiving that none of them came to the Kings hands, hefent to Ifpahan one* 

 of his difcreeteft and molt (nifty fervants, who coming to Court intermix'd him- 

 felf among the reft of the Lackeys. The Athemadoulet Ipying an unknown face,and 

 being always miftruftful, demanded who he was? To whom the Mellenger an- 

 fwer'd that he was a poor Souldier upon the frontiers of the Kingdom , who be- 

 caufe he could not get his pay there was come to Court to fee if he could there 

 get any recompence for his fervice: upon which reply the Athemadoulet took no 

 farther notice of him. Prefently after, the young man meeting the Miter to)d 

 him he had Letters of importance to deliver into the Kings ownhand,of which the 

 Meter giving notice to the King, the meflenger was immediately call'd in. The 

 ^ King having read the Letters which difcover'd to him what the Athemadoulet had 

 conceal'd from him touching the no neceffity of keeping forces upon the Frontiers 

 oTGevrgia, and the lofs which the Kan of Korajfan had receiv'd, tranfported with 

 choler againft his prime Minifter,fent for him,and after he had moft bloodily revil'd 

 and reproach'd him, he was within a little of killing him with his own hands. But 

 the Naz.ar and fbme other Lords there prefent took the boldnefs to reprefenf 

 to the King the long fervices which Mahomet Beg had done the Kingdom, and that 

 fince his Majefty had rais'd him from the duft to the higheft honours of the King- 

 dom, it would not be for his honour to deftroy at one blow a perfbn that he had 

 loy'd, and might ftill be ufeful to him. This difcourfe fomewhat appeas'd the 

 King, fo ^ that he only gave him in cuftody to the Na^ar. Three days after the 

 King exil'dhim toAT^with all hisFamily,not permitting him to fhave himfelf,go 

 to the Bath, or to come abroad. This Exilement lafted for feveral years. But my 

 Letters from Perfia in the year 1674. enform'd me that Sha Sotyman, the prefent 

 King,has reftor'd him to his Primier Dignity, and that he ftill governs 3$ Athcma- 

 doulet, the King rinding no man more capable than himfelf. 



CHAP. 



