'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.' [‎173] (206/786)

THE HISTORY OF PERSIA.
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posed to form of this ruler, from a contemplation of the events of chap. xix.
his life: nor is the possession of the negative virtues ascribed to him
at variance with those charges of cowardly weakness, and medi
tated treachery, which have been affixed to his memory. There
can be no doubt that it was the total disregard which this monarch
showed to the honour of one of his most faithful and distinguished
leaders, and to his own pledged faith, which led to his becoming
the indirect instrument of his own destruction, and gave to the blow
of his assassin the colour, if not the reality, of justice.
Among the chiefs who served this ruler, there was none more dis- Conduct of
mi • i Hajee Aly
tinguished than Hajee Aly Kooli, of Kazeroon. This nobleman Kooii.
had been sent to quell a very serious revolt in the country to the
east of Kashan. He had subdued the leader ^ against whom he had
been detached ; and among the prisoners he had made was a corps
of fifteen hundred Khorassan infantry; who, after defending them
selves bravely, had capitulated upon the express condition of being
honourably treated. Jaaffer Khan refused to ratify this agreement,
and directed that the men of this corps should be deprived of their
arms, and thrown into prison f. It was in vain that his general
represented that this act would be alike impolitic and disgraceful.
His remonstrances were disregarded; and his earnest request that his
honour might be preserved from the stain which so flagrant a breach
of promise would entail upon him, was treated with slight, if not with
contempt. The indignant chief resolved to quit the service of a
monarch who had sacrificed his reputation. He left the army, accom-
* The name of this chief was Mahomed Hussein Khan, Arab. He was aided by
Meer Mahomed Khan of Tubbus. t Aly Reza's History of the Zund Family.