MAHMOUD ALI MIRZA. 
203 
but he is despotic and severe, rather holding the affections of 
those about him by awe, than attachment. His military talents 
have been tried on more than one occasion, in conflicts with the 
troops of the Pasha of Bagdad ; the results of which have shewn 
his powers for negociation and political intrigue, by the advan¬ 
tages to himself which he always derived from these differences. 
He has now fixed a tribute on the Pasha, and maintains a sove¬ 
reign influence over all the considerable chiefs of that part of 
Courdistan which appertains to the pashalick. The boldness 
and command of such a character is very striking; and we see in 
it iron qualities, well adapted to the government of so wild a 
country as the most part of southern Persia; power to use, or to 
hold in check, those predatory and turbulent spirits which obey 
no law but the sword. But these, perhaps essential dispositions 
to controul an almost determinately barbarous people, would 
crush the growing progress of civilization in the northern part of 
the empire ; which requires the bland influence of gentleness, 
goodness, liberality, and bravery wedded to mercy, to foster that 
country into what it promises. And between two such opposite 
characters as those I have just sketched, the contest will lie. 
The power of Mahmoud Ali Mirza, when ever he chooses to 
exert it, may be considered formidable, from the extent and na¬ 
ture of the country under his jurisdiction. It embraces almost 
the whole of the Louristan mountains, even so far to the south¬ 
east as where they nearly touch the head of the Persian Gulf; 
and bending round in the line of the Ziloon hills, it includes 
the province of Khuzistan ; whence it runs north-west by Mount 
Zagros, till bounded by the province of Ardelan ; a part of Cour¬ 
distan, under the rule of the Waly of Senna. Hamadan touches 
it on the north-east. And thus it may be said to hold within 
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