'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.' [‎242] (275/786)

THE HISTORY OF PERSIA.
CHAP. XX. Usbeg chief who had overcome that prince, wa§, in his turn, over-
thrown and slain by the gallant Shah Ismail, the first monarch of
the SufFavean race who filled the throne of Persia. But his de
scendants continued, for three centuries, to reign over the territories
of Bokharah. Their power had, for some years before Nadir Shah
invaded that country, been upon the decline; and that event, by
degrading their authority, may be said to have terminated their rule.
The few princes who were subsequently elevated to the throne were
merely pageants in the hands of powerful chiefs: and we are in
formed, that when the male line of the race of Chenghiz* became
extinct, a son of a pious Syud (who was said to be descended of
a female f branch of the royal family,) was raised to the throne;
and to this pageant, proud and jealous tribes granted their nominal
* Raheem Beg, who had commanded the ten thousand Ushegs sent with Ncldir,
usurped, after the death of that monarch, the chief power at Bokharah. He slew
Abool Fyze Khan, and elevated his infant son, Abdool Momeen Khan: but on hearing
some years afterwards, that the young prince, when practising archery, had, on aiming
at a water-melon, in which he saw a fancied resemblance to Raheem Beg, said, " Now
" for the head of Atta Baba," (or father-tutor,) the name he gave Raheem Beg; that
chief conceived he cherished designs of revenging his father, and directed his death in
a manner that should make it appear accidental. This was effected by one of his com
panions running against him when standing on the brink of a well. He was the last
of the male descendants of Chenghiz.— Meer Yusoof Aly's MS.
i* The prince so elevated is termed Khaujah Zadah, or son of a Khaujah. The title
of Khaujah, or Shaikh, is in Tartary only given to the descendants of the prophet, or
of the three first caliphs, Aboubeker, Omar, and Osman. But it is the habit of the Kings
of Tartary, as it had been for those of Persia, to marry their daughters to pious Syuds;
and it is stated, that the children selected as pageants were descendants of the royal
family by female branches.
-urtak