'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎197] (230/1024)

CtoL <?/Monfieur Tavernier. , 1^7
anddy’d at the end of the year 1628. Before he dy’d, he gave command, that
he ftjould be bury’d in fome place unknown to all the world, and that they
(hould fet his Grand-child upon his Throne, and give him the name of Sba~
% foen as Sha-Abbas's eyes were clos'd, the General of the Horfe, and the
chief Captain of the Harquebufles, with whom the Commands were left, rode
in all hade to Ifpahan^ and coming to the Palace, defied to fpeak with the Mo
ther of the Child. The Mother was in a fad affright, believing that they came
to put the young Prince to death. But when they had diflipated her fears,
and that (he underftood that they came (o fet him upon the Throne by the
command of his Grand-father, (he embrac’d the young Prince, and return’d him
into the hands of the Eunuchs. When he was come out of the Haram, the two
Lords, attended by feveral others, faluted him King, and acknowledg’d him for
their Soveraign. At the fame time they took off his Cloaths and tore them,
which in Perfia is a mark of mournings and according to cuftom, put him on-
another plain Garment, which he wore till midnight. Then they difrob’d him
again, and put him on his Royal Robes, and fet him upon the Throne, where
all the Lords came and did him homage, and the next day he was acknowledg’d
by all the Acclamations of the People. For when the Royal Habit is put upon
the new King, the Drums, Trumpets, Timbals, Hautboys, and other Inftru-
ments, make a din in a peculiar place of the Meydan appointed for that purpofe.
Which is the Signal to give notice to the people to meet the next morning, to
acknowledg the new King. Sba-Sefi for many years was a Novice in the art
of Government. But time opening his eyes the firft remarkable thing which
he did, being at Casbin, was to cut off the head of Ali-Kouli-Kan, that great
Captain who had conquer’d the Kingdoms of Lar and Orntus for Sha-Abbas i
ind the heads of three of his Sons. After that, returning to Iftaban, he cut off
the heads of feven of the principal Lords of his Court j arid by little and little
took the Government into his own hands. Of thofe Lords whom Jani Kan was
the chief.
For’tis thought that Sha Abbas had left a private order with Mbrza Takf r
and the Dowager Sa/tatfe/} to rid themfelves of thofe Lords fo foon as Sba-
Sefi (hould be fet I’d in his Throne, and that they had plac’d Governors in all places
wherein the King might confide. Thefc Lords having fmoak’d the private order of
Sba-Abbas, and believing that the time of execution drew near, prevented the
Athemadoulet Mirza Take* for meeting one morning before the Palace-door,
they kill’d the Porter, and entiing his Bed-Chamber, ftab’d him before: he could
rife. After this execution, they went to the King, whom Jam-Kan boldly told,
that they had ilain Mirza Take. The King at that time diffembling his anger at fo
bold an enterprize,, and an attempt upon the Royal Authority, anfwer’d him,
that he had done very well, and that he had prevented thofe orders which he
intended to have giv’n him. The Suhanefs his Mother then govern’d the King
dom, together with the Athemadoulet, from whom (he receiv’d four hundred
Ducats in Gold every day for her little pleafures *, and held a private Coun
cil with him in her Haram, where he had free admiffion, as being cut clofe. In
this Council it was, that thefe two perfons overthrew in the night whatever the
Lords concluded in the day } chang’d the Kings mind, and over-ruPd his thoughts
as they pleas’d themfelves, by vertue of .that power which they had over him.
Eight or nine days after, as thefe Lords were fitting in Council with the King,
an Eunuch enter’d, which was the fignal for the King to get out of the way,
and as foon as the King was gone, the Chamber was fill’d with Eunuchs, that
ru(hing in immediately fell upon Jani-Kan and his Accomplices^ and cut off their
heads. Their heads and bodies were immediately expos’d tri the view of the
people in the Meydan \ and for that it is not the cuftom in Perfia to take any
cognisance of what the King does, the moft part of the people fpurning the
heads with their feet, cry’d one to another, See the beads of thofe Dogs that have
difobey'd the mil of the King, a
I told ye, that Mirza Takf was clean cut* which occafions a particular (lory ;
He was Governour of Guilan in the Reign of Sha-Abbas, and having abus’d one
of his Pages, the young Lad Hole fecretly to Ifpahan 9 and made his com-*
A a 2 plaint