The Persian Travels Book V. 



plaint to the King; who having heard it, immediately fent him to be Go- 

 vernour of G uil an , in the place of Mirz.a Take, and order'd him to fend 

 him his head by one of the Officers,, which he difpatch'd along with him. The 

 King alio, in regard the Page was very young, appointed him a perfon able 

 to adviïè him in his affairs. In the rriean while Mrr^a Take miffing his Page, 

 and making no quefti-on but he was gone to make his complaint to the King, 

 which would of neceffity prove his ruin, if not prevented ; he refolv'd to di- 

 vert the itorm by punifhing himfelf, and caus'd that part to be cut clean off 

 that committed the crime. At the fame time, and in that bad condition where- 

 in he then was, he caus'd himfelf to be put into a Litter,, and taking his Chi- 

 rurgeon along with him, he gets to Isfahan by another way which was not 

 ufùally travelXl, for fear of meeting the Page, and caufing himfelf to be car- 

 ry'd into the Palace in that pitiful and languifhing eftate, defir'd to fpeak with 

 the King, who was furpi iz'd at his arrival. But the Kan having prefented' 

 him in a Plate of Gold with the undoubted marks of his repentance, befought 

 his Majefties pardon. Whereupon the King confidering the rigor and extraor- 

 dinary punifhment which he had inflicted upon himfelf,fent him back to his Govern- 

 ment, and recall'd the Page, whom he otherways gratifi'd. And this was the 

 man whom Sha Abbas upon .his Death-bed order'd that Sba-Sefi fhoufd make 

 Atbemadoulet , as being the fitteft for the employment of any perfon in his 

 Kingdom. 



Sba-Sefi not content to have rid himfelf of the Lords that had prefum'd to 

 invade his Authority, was refolv'd to have the head of Ali-merdan-Kan, Go- 

 vernour of Candabar ; of whom he was jealous, by reafon of his vaft riches, his 

 Plate being all Gold, and his Houfe as magnificently furnifh'd as the Kings. But 

 the King could not bring about his defign 5 for the Kan being prefs't to come 

 to Court., and believing it was only to take away his head, to free himfelf from 

 the danger, deliver'd Candabar to the Great Mogul, by whom he was kindly 

 enterta!n'd, and highly carefs'd. Neither was AU-merdan-Kans wealth of his 

 own getting, but left him by inheritance, as being defcended from the ancient 

 » Kings of Candabar, who were originally Tartars. Now whatever favours or ad- 

 vancement the Great Mogul beftow'd upon Ali-merdan-Kan, the fame did the 

 Terfian King beftow upon his two Sons ; whereas all the world believ'd, that 

 after fuch a piece of Treafon committed by their Father, the King would have 

 ript up their bellies. This piece of policy of Sha-Sifi was very advantageous 

 to Sba-Abbas the fécond, when he befieg'd Candabar with fifty thoufand men. 

 For the greateft part of the Aioguls Army being compos'd of Perfians, they 

 remembring how kindly Sba-Sefi had us'd the two Sons of Ali-merdan-Kan, 

 made little refiftance againft the King of Perfia, who enter 'd Candabar in a fmall 

 time. The Great Mogul troubfd at the lofs, ask'd Ali-merdan-Kan, by what 

 means he might retake Candabar ; who prefently made anfwer, that it would 

 be very eafie, if he could find fuch another Traytor as he had been. 



But to return to Sba-Sefi ; his Reign .was very violent, of which I will give 

 you this Example : 



One day the King returning from the Kelonters Houfe in Zulpha, having 

 drank to excefs, commanded that the Sultanefs fhould come to him ; who un- 

 derftanding that he was in drink, made no great hafte, fo that the King in the 

 mean time fell afleep. But waking again foon after, and not feeing the Queen, 

 he call'd fox her a fécond time ; of which when fhe had notice, fhe came im- 

 mediately. When fhe came into the Chamber, the perceiv'd the King afleep, 

 and in expectation of his waking, hid her felf in a Nich behind the Hangings $ 

 where generally the MattrefTes and Coverlets are laid by. The King waking, 

 and not yet perceiving the Sultanefs J in a great chafe demanded why fhe was 

 not yet come. The Queen-Mother, who was a Georgian Slave, and mortaJJy 

 hated the young Sultanefs, who was the Daughter of the King of Georgia, and 

 therefore difdain'd by her, took an occafion to put her out of the Kings fa- 

 vour j and having firft fpok'n ill of her, made a fign to the King to let him 

 underftand that the young Queen was hid in fuch a Nich. Upon that the King 

 rifing in a great fury, ftab'd the poor Princefs with his Dagger four or five times 

 in the belly, and hardly knowing what he had done, went to bed again. The 



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