LIBRARY. 
255 
to a conspiracy formed against him between his brother and his Vizier 
he was obliged to take refuge in Persia at the court of Shah Thamas, who 
recovered his throne for him, which he possessed until the year 1552. 
He was the father to Jelaleddeen Akbar, and ancestor to Jehangeer, 
Shahjehan, Aurengzebe, and those Princes known to us under the title 
of Great Moguls.** 
Close to the tomb of the Sheikh are those of his sons, who are said to 
have commenced these different buildings, but which were completed, 
beautified, and endowed by the great Shah Abbas. To the left, in a 
small dark room, is the tomb of Shah Ismael, the first king of the Sef- 
fevies, which is overlaid by a very beautiful casement of fine work like 
mosaic, composed of ivory, tortoise shell, and turquoises, inlaid with 
passages from the Koran, and which, in our estimation, was the most 
valuable, as well as the most curious object that we had yet seen in this 
place. This also was a present from Homayoun Shah. 
From the tombs we were led to a saloon of large dimensions, painted 
and ornamented in a beautiful style, and upon the floor of which were 
placed a great variety of china bowls, vases, &c. besides several curious 
wrought cups of jad and agate, that did not appear to be of Mahomedan 
workmanship. A collection of manuscript books, the gift of Shah 
Abbas, were here preserved, in two large closets inserted in the wall, 
and which we were permitted to inspect. The books were in excellent 
preservation, and consisted of the best Persian works, some of which 
were beautifully written and highly illuminated. Most of them were 
stamped with the seal of Shah Abbas; and on the blank page at 
the beginning of each, it was inscribed, that they were left for the 
use of those who would read them on the spot, but that a curse 
would fall upon whomsoever should take them from it. Such dona¬ 
tions as these are called wakf, (a bequest); and it is a general belief 
amongst this people, that whoever shall steal or violate any such pro¬ 
perty, will sooner or later be visited by heavy misfortunes. To this 
Vide d’Herbelot, art. Homaioun. 
