'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME I' [‎158v] (323/820)

296
KAJ-KAJ
“ In the year 1794 A.D., Aqa Muhammad proclaimed his nephew,
Fath ’All Khan, commonly called Baba Khan,
1794 A. D. successor to the throne, and, appointing him to
the government of Persia proper, sent him to reside at Shiraz. He also
put to death his brother. Ja’afar Quli Khan, from motives of jealousy.
“ In 1795 A.D. he marched into the province of Armenia, all of which
he subdued except the fort of Shisheh—which
1795 A. D. under its governor, Ibrahim Kulbal (?) Khan,
gallantly resisted his attack for eight months. Despairing of success, he rais
ed the siege and marched into Georgia. He was encountered near Tiflis,
• The prince Herakly or tte capital of the prince, by the Vaii Arkuli
Heraclius, so well known in Khan, whom he defeated, and the city in con-
Europe. He was upwards of sequence fell into his possession. He only re-
100 years of age at this period, niained there .twelve days, which he employed
in destroying and burning the town and in acts of most inhuman cruelty. All
of the inhabitants that were spared from the sword were given to his army as
slaves. After these excesses he returned to Teh]an, and commenced prepara
tions for an expedition against Khorasan, which extensive province was ruled
by a number of petty princes and chiefs, who had neither owned the authority
of the prince of Kandahar nor of Persia since the death of Nadir Shah.
“ The chief of these were Shah Rukh, grandson to Nadir, who ruled at
Meshed ; Mir Husain Khan, of Tabas ; Allah Yar Khan, of Sabzawar;
Mustafa Khan, of Turshiz ; Ja’far Khan, of NishapSr ; Mihr ’Ali Khan, of
Birjand, and Amir Guna Khan, of Kuchan. These rulers, who had never
united in one cause, were not only distracted at this period by their inter
nal quarrels, but alarmed by an invasion of Uzbegs. They in consequence
received Aqa Muhammad more as a friend than an enemy, and he ad
vanced to Meshed without opposition. He made himself master of that
city ; and Shah Rukh, who was blinded in a former revolution, fell into his
hands, with his family, except his eldest son Nasir Mirza, who made his
escape to Herat.
“ Whether Aqa Mahummad’s conduct to this family was prompted by
avarice, or revenge of the early wrongs he had received from one of its
branches, or both, it is immaterial to imagine. The cruelties he commit
ted on them were shocking to nature. Round the head of Shah Rukh
he made a ring of paste, and poured boiling oil .upon his crown. The
excruciating torture forced that prince to confess where the remains of
the jewels and treasure brought from India by Nadir Shah were concealed,
but the discovery did not save his life, of which he was deprived by the
cruel means mentioned. All the males of this unfortunate family were
made eunuchs and the females, old and young, were distributed among the
! mule-drivers of the army. After these and a thousand other actions of a
similiar nature, Aqa Muhammad returned to Tehran, leaving garrisons
in Meshed and other forts in Khorasan.
“ In the year 1797 A. D., he learned that the Empress of Russia, resent-
ing his attack on the Georgians, had sent an
' " army amounting to 30,000 men, and that they
had advanced as far as the city of Ardabil. He immediately began pre
parations to oppose them, but before these were made, the death of the
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