'The History of Persia, from the most early period to the present time: containing an account of the religion, government, usages and character of the inhabitants of that kingdom. By Colonel Sir John Malcolm, KCB, KLS Late minister plenipotentiary to the court of Persia from the supreme government of India. In two volumes.' [‎66] (105/730)

66
THE HISTORY OF PERSIA.
chap . iv. Bahman, to the charge of Roostum, and entreated that the hero
would educate him as a warrior. Pooshtung, the brother of Isfun-
dear, took up the body of that prince, placed it in a coffin, and
proceeded, with all his army clothed in blacky to Bulkh. The old
monaTch saw too late the folly of his plans: he long mourned his
Gushtasp's irretrievable loss : and, before his death, he sent for his grandson,
Bahman, and appointed him his heir and successor^
The worship of fire was spread in every direction, during this
prince's reign; a circumstance that has given him a fame in ancient
history, which he does not seem to merit on any other ground.
Persian historians inform us, that he reigned sixty years
Bahman, the Gushtasp was succeeded by his grandson, Bahman, who is better
dear,Succeeds known in history by his title, Ardisheer Dirazdust:|; 5 (the Artaxerxes
to the crown. j i0n gj manus 0 f t } ie Greeks). He is celebrated for the wisdom he
displayed in the internal regulation of his empire. He knew, we
are told, through the means of secret agents, every action, important
or trifling, of the numerous officers he employed, and these were
* It would appear that this colour has been that of mourning in Persia from the
most ancient ages: but their term, Sia, may, perhaps, be translated dark, as it applies
to dark blue and dark brown as well as black.
f It has been before stated, that he was the Darius Hystaspes of the Greeks: and
if so, his long reign probably includes both his own and that of his successor, Xerxes,
who, there is every reason to think, from causes which will be stated hereafter, is the
Isfundear of Eastern authors.
% The celebrated Artaxerxes Longimanus of the Greeks. The Persian name of
this prince, Ardisheer, would at first seem, by a very simple etymology, deducible from
the compound term Oordoo-Sheer, which, in Persian, means the lion of the camp ^ but
nothing can be more fallacious than such etymologies, unless we are well versed in the
language of the period at which the title was given. The Zund and Shanscrit have a