i ? 8 The Persian Travels Book V. 



CKAP. HI 



Of what fell out mofl^ memorable m the Reign of Sha-Sefi the first ; 

 and particularly of the death of Iman-Kouli-Kan, and kis three 

 Sons. 



I 



Man-Kouli-Kan was the Iaft Kan of Schiras , whofe Government éxtended 

 aver the Province of Lar> to the Golf of Perfia, under the Reign of Sha- 

 Abbas J thefe Kans being the moft potent in all Ptrfia. Iman-Kouli-- 

 Kan was he who in the Reign of Sha- Abbas conquer'd the greateft partofthç 

 Kingdom of Lar, and the Kingdom of Or mm, with all the Coaft of the Pcr- 

 fian Golf, from Cape fafc/ues to Bal/ara. 



This Iman-KoxL-Kan was prodigioufly rich, belov'd and refpe&ed by all the 

 world } befides he was wonderfully magnificent, his expences almoft equalling 

 the Kings ; which occafion'd Sha- Abbas, who difcours'd with him one day parti- 

 cularly upon that Subject, to tell him, that he defir'd him to fpend everyday 

 one Mamoudy left than he, that there might be fome difference between the 

 expences of a King and a Kan. 



The noble qualities of this Iman-Kouli-Kan had gainM the affections of the 

 people j for he was magnificent and liberal ; highly recompene'd brave Soldiers 

 and Students 3 he lov'd Strangers, and had a particular care to cherifh Arts 

 and Sciences. To which purpofe he bailfra fair Golledgfat Spkiras, for the in- 

 ftrudion of Youth ; and lèverai Inns," as well in the" City as upon the Road, 

 for the benefit of Travellers. He caus'd Mountains to be cut thorough to fhor- 

 ten xhe way 5 and join'd others by Bridges, of fuch an adventurous Structure, 

 that it is hard to conjecture how luch prodigious Arches could be made over 

 fuch vaft Precipices and Torrents. 



Now in regard Iman-Kouli-Kan was ftrick'n in years, he feldom went to 

 Court, chufing rather to continue in his Government, where he was belov'd and 

 refpeded by all men. But the King being young, and the Government of the 

 Kingdom in the hands of the Queen- Mother and the Athemadoulet, who were 

 extreamly jealous of the Kan, thofe two perfons link'd together in intereft for 

 the maintenance of the Kings Authority and their own, fretted to fee the 

 Kan's Court almoft as fplendid as the Kings ; and that nothing of the Reve- 

 nue of Schiras, Lar, Ormm, or any part of the Perfian Golf came to the Kings 

 Cotfers, as being folely at the difpofal of the Kan 5 but that on the contrary, 

 the King was oblig'd to fend him Money to pay the Army. But that which 

 troubled the Queen-Mother molt of all, was the pretention of the Kan's eldelt 

 Son to the Crown, whowas alio a perfon of a daring and ambitions courage. 

 For the Kings of Perfia efteem it a great Honour to beftow upon any Kan or 

 great Lord, one of their Wives out of their Royal Haram 3 and Sha^Abbas 

 had given to Iman-Kouli-Kan one of his own proper Wives, whom he lov'd 

 extreamly. 'Tis thought that when (he left the Haram fhe was three months 

 gone with Child by Sha- Abbas, for fomewhat above fix months after .fhe was 

 bedded by the Kan, fhe lay-in of a Son, of which the King was the reputed 

 Father, and who being born before Sha-Sefi, pretended aright before him to 

 the Throne. By vertue of this claim, contrary to the will of Sha-Abbas in 

 favour of Sha-Sefi, this ambitious Lord, who only pafs'd for the Kans eldelt 

 Son, vehemently follicited his Father to feize upon Sha-Sefi, and to make him- 

 felf King, or at leaft to op'n a way for him to the Throne. Now it happen cL, 

 that one day being a hunting with the young King near Schiras, the impatient 

 young Lord coming to his Father 3 Sir, fàid he, fee now the opportunity that 

 offers you the Throne 5 for I will go prefently and bring you Sha-Sefi's head. 

 .But the Kan holding his Son by the Arm, told him, that he would never con- 

 fent to the death of his King 5 protefting to him, rather to dye a thoufànd 

 deaths ; adding withafl, that it was the Kings will to appoint Sha-Sefi to fuc- 

 ceed him, as beicg the Son of his Son, and confequently his lawful Heir 3 that 



the 



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