'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.' [‎83] (108/786)

THE HISTORY OF PERSIA.
83
most of those, at whose palaces troops were stationed for their chap.xvii.
protection, gave them up without effort to the fury of the populace,
and even in some instances assisted in their destruction *.
N^dir, when he first heard of this tumult, sent several persons Nadir in vaia
. endeavours to
to explain to the populace their delusion and their danger: but undeceive the
his messengers were slain. He remained with all the Persians populace '
he could assemble in the palace which he occupied till the day
dawned, when he mounted his horse, and rode forth to endea
vour, by his presence, to quell the tumultf. But his moderation
only inflamed the insolence and fury of those whom (even Indian
historians inform us,) it was his desire to spare J: and he at last
gave his troops, who had arrived from their encampment near
the city, orders for a general massacre. He was too well obeyed : orders a gene-
. , ,, . . ral massacre.
the populace, the moment the Persians began to act, lost all their
courage; and, from sunrise till twelve o'clock, Dehli presented a
scene of shocking carnage, the horrors of which were increased by
the flames that now spread to almost every quarter of that capital.
Nddir, after he had issued the fatal orders, went into the small
mosque of Rosheen-u-dowlah, which stands near the centre of the
city, and remained there in a deep and silent gloom that none dared
to disturb. At last the unhappy Mahomed Shah, attended by two which is stop-
of his ministers, rushed into his presence, exclaiming, " Spare my Vision 6 Tf
" people!" N^dir replied: " The Emperor of India must never ^ e In ^ peror
* Scott's Translation of the History of the Deckan, Vol. II. page 207. t Ibid.
% All authors agree in this fact. Eraser, who was a cotemporary, and writes from
a journal kept on the scene, says, that a shot was fired at N£idir himself, which missed
him, but killed one of his principal officers, and that he then gave loose to his indig
nation.