52 
E. E. Oliver —The Safwi Dynasty of Persia. 
[No. 2, 
of statesmanship. He endeavoured at once to relieve the- inhabitants 
of Isfahan from famine, to establish confidence by continuing the best 
of the Persian officials in office, to induce settlers to come, to encourage 
foreigners, and to tolerate religion. Personally ugly almost to deformity, 
he had great courage, strength, and energy,—qualities it may be said 
common to many savages. Anything like an attempt at civilized go¬ 
vernment, however, did not last long. Prosperity spoiled him, his 
rapid successes developed ferocity, and finally, apprehension for his 
safety, combined with great physical suffering, developed all his savage 
instincts, and converted him into an insane and cruel monster. 
Shah Husain had recognised as his heir his son Tahmasp, who 
during the reign of Isfahan had fled to Qazwin, where he collected a 
force took the title of Shah Tahmasp II. and all through the reign 
of Mahmud and Ashraf made weak and ineffectual efforts to get 
back the throne. Another figure here appears on the scene—Peter 
the Great, the Russian Czar, who now took advantage of the confusion 
in Persia, “ to extend his commerce,” a euphemism for extending his 
dominions, on the western shores of the Caspian. Adopting the same 
formula which his successors have since followed with such good effect, 
he called on Mahmud to redress certain wrongs his subjects were alleged 
to have entertained at the hands of border tribes, and on Mahmud plead¬ 
ing his inability, issued a proclamation declaring “ he had no ambitious 
designs of extending his territories,” arrived on the coast of Da gh istan. 
and as a commencement annexed Darband, and part of the province of 
Shirwan 1135 H. (1722 A. D.) The Turks followed suit and advanced 
to Hamadan with an army, and all through the Af gh an occupation it 
may be said the Courts of Constantinople and St. Petersburg cherished 
designs against Persia, which it was mainly jealousy of one another 
prevented their executing. The Russians seized Baku, and part at least of 
Cilan, while their minister concluded a treaty with the exile Tahmasp II., 
in 1135 H.,* which was to establish him on the throne in return for 
the cession of the provinces of Daghistan, Shirwan, Gilan, Mazandaran 
and Astarabad, that is, a largo part of Persia with the entire territory 
adjoining the Caspian. Kurdistan had acknowledged the Turks, who 
were practical masters of Irwan, Khuwi,t Nakhjiwan, Maraghah. almost 
the whole of Armenia, and a largo part of A'zarbaij&n. After a most 
obstinate battle, lasting four days, Tabriz had surrendered 1137 H.,J 
and the city of Gan jail the same year. In 1138 H. a parti t ion treaty 
was actually concluded between the Russian and the Turk, but this 
and the subsequent events belong properly to the reign of Ashraf. 
# 23rd September, 1723 A.D. t Near Tabriz.. [Spelled Khooo by Malcolm, and 
in tho Persian Translation, vol. 11, p. it Kd.] X 3rd August, 1725 A. 1). 
