58 
E. E. Oliver —The Safwi Dynasty of Persia . [No. 2, 
which has happened is the best.” By the reversal of a letter “ la ” 
for “ al ” the wags made the translation read, “ That which has 
happened is not the best.” 
It is not intended to follow the subsequent career of Nadir Shah, 
his invasion of India, his reign in Persia, and his tragic end. Whatever 
may be charged against his character, he certainly restored the throne 
of Persia to its former glory, and with all his failings, in many ways 
proved himself a great king. The feeble Husain had brought the 
kingdom to its lowest ebb, it had in fact almost ceased to be a king¬ 
dom at all. Nadir did all that on the plains of Chowal Mugam he took 
credit for doing. He drove out the Af gh an, the Turk, and the Russian. 
He did more. He converted some of the most dangerous of his coun¬ 
try’s foes into its best defenders. He subdued the Bukhtiyaris, daring 
tribes who occupied the rugged mountains of Lar, between Isfahan 
and Shustar, who had opposed the advance of Alexander, routed the 
armies of Rome, and given constant trouble for generations ; and he 
made them into efficient soldiers, who did great service in his subse¬ 
quent campaigns. He took Qandakar, though it cost him a siege of a 
year and a half, and conquered Kabul. At the latter place he left a 
contingent of his Qazalbashis, where them descendants still occupy a 
quarter. He consolidated his empire, and then, as former rulers of his 
race had done, cast his eyes towards India, and in its invasion thought 
he saw the restoration to Persia of its ancient splendours and its ancient 
fame. We are accustomed to take the account of his invasion of India 
from the Indian historian’s point of view. Judged dispassionately, his 
conduct generally appears to advantage. He was even generous to the 
conquered Mughal Emperor. Up to the period of his return from 
India, his countrymen at least might be proud of him. “ Whether,” as 
as Malcolm says, “ we consider the noble and patriotic object which first 
stimulated his ambition, the valour and ability lie displayed, the com¬ 
parative moderation with which lie used success, or the glorious deeds 
lie had done, he is entitled to great, if not unqualified, admiration.” 
The last fivo years of his life, so fearfully clouded with suspicion 
and cruelty, arc perhaps not quite the measuro of the man. There is 
no doubt that his order, given in a moment of rage, to put out the eyes 
of his son Raza Quli, preyed ever after on his mind. It must not bo 
forgotten that ibis son had, during Nadir's absence, tried to usurp the 
throne, had made an organised attempt to take his father’s life, and 
when Nadir in the most generous terms* had offered him pardon, 
if he would confess his fault, and invited him to wait till in the 
natural course of things he must succeed to the throne, the tierce 
# Sou 11 un way's custompomry story. 
