349 
CHAPTER XXIIL 
In the spring of 1814, rumours of disaffection in the eastern provinces 
of Persia, and of a continuation of hostility on the part of the Turcomans 
had determined the King not to pass the summer as usual at Sultanieh, 
but to proceed to Khorassan. His object was to overawe the dis¬ 
affected parties, and to take advantage of such disturbances as had al¬ 
ready arisen, -by exacting fines from those who were engaged in them. 
He had not proceeded farther than Firouz koh, on the confines of Maz- 
anderan, when an event occurred for which he was totally unprepared, 
and which would have been attended with very serious consequences if 
he had not acted with immediate vigour and good policy. 
It was suddenly announced that Mahomed Zemaun Khan, a Cajar by 
birth, and Governor of the city and territory of Astrabad, though a man 
of little estimation and celebrity, had entered into a league with 
the Turcomans, had disavowed the King’s authority, and had him¬ 
self made pretensions to royal power and prerogative. This mea¬ 
sure was attributed to the hatred which he had conceived against 
the King and his government, in consequence of heavy fines imposed 
upon him during the preceding winter. At that time he had been 
called to Teheran to account for his malversation in the government 
of Astrabad, was nearly stripped of all the wealth which he had amassed, 
and would have been deprived of his situation if the strongest interces¬ 
sions had not been made in his favour. When, however, he was permitted 
to return, he immediately began to put into execution the schemes which 
had been suggested by his exasperation. He connected himself with 
the hostile Turcoman chiefs, informed them that he was commissioned 
to induce them to go to Teheran, but at the same time warned them 
not to go, “For,” said he, “you will bedetained as hostages—you have but 
“ one plan to pursue—-resist his orders, and I will join you in the resist- 
“ ance. Instead of obeying him, you shall be ray masters^ and we will bid 
