468 An account of the Early Abdalees. QNo. 162. 



he did, by assuring them that 6,000 Afghans would be led into captivity 

 by the Persian conqueror, and that this visitation of the Almighty's 

 wrath was caused by the cries of one poor Noorzye shepherdess, who in 

 vain entreated her harsh mistress to give her in-door work, instead 

 of the hunger and cold of the bleak mountains. In the course of time, 

 Nadir Shah appeared before Herat, which he besieged for fourteen 

 months, leading into captivity 6,000 Afghans, men and women, which he 

 distributed throughout the town of Persia, employing the boldest and 

 most able-bodied in his army. 



Their chiefs at this time were Ghanee-khan Alakozye, and Noor Ma- 

 hammad-khan Aleezye. 



Nadir Shah had been besieging Daghistan for eleven months without 

 success, and his temper became accordingly soured, when one day a 

 shot from the besieged ramparts was so admirably thrown as to fill the 

 dishes Nadir Shah was dining off in his tent with dust. This gave the 

 climax to his wrath ; and he ordered the chiefs of the captive Abdalees 

 to be summoned. Among them, besides the two above-mentioned, were 

 Hajee Jamal-khan Mahammadzye, and JanooandManoo-khans Noorzyes. 

 Nadir Shah informed them, swearing by Sultan Alee Moosa, that they 

 would all be massacred should they fail in becoming masters of the for- 

 tress within twenty-four hours. 



The Abdalees seeing their case desperate, swore to die like men, and 

 sent a communication to the besieged, desiring them to evacuate the 

 fortress within six hours, which, being of course laughed at, the Abdalees 

 prepared for the attack. This was so sudden and so desperate — the 

 Abdalees still passing on over the dead bodies of 600 of their brethren — 

 as to inspire the besieged with a sudden panic, which did not subside 

 until they had gained the outside of the fort in their retreat. Nadir 

 Shah was so pleased, that he ordered the Abdalees to ask any favor of 

 him. "Revenge us on the Ghiljyes of Candahar, and give us their 

 lands," was their first request, and "release our captives," was their 

 second. Both were granted, and orders were given to collect the Af- 



his insurrection. Again, it is mentioned that in the time of Shah Mahmood Ghiljye 

 of Candahar, the Uzbecks invaded Khorasan, and were joined by Azadullah 

 (Sadulla?) Duranee chief of the Hazarajat, who had been formerly dependent on 

 Herat, but who had been estranged by an insult offered him by the governor of Herat, 

 Mahammad Zuman-khan. A Persian force of 30,000 men advanced to Herat, and 

 defeated the Uzbecks; but was in its turn defeated by the Afghans, 15,000 in number, 

 under Azadulla, who retained possession of Herat and its dependencies. 



