'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.' [‎204] (237/1024)

The Persian Travels
. .
Book V
C H f A P. m.
Of what fell out mofi memorable in the Reign of Sha-Sefi the fir(l ;
and particularly of the death o/Iman-KouH-Kan, andhh
three Sons.
I Man-Kouli-Kan was the lad Kan of Sc&mz/, whofe Government extended over
the Province of L*r, to the Golf of Petfia, under the Reign of Sba- Abbas
thefe being the moft potent in all Per/?*, Iman-Kouli-Kan vns he who in
the Reign of Sba-Abbas conquer’d the greateft part of the Kingdom of Lar, and
the Kingdom ot Ormufj with all the Coaft of the Perftan Golf, from Cape Jajques
to Balfara, . " 1
This Iman-Kouli-Kan was prodigioufly rich, belov’d and ^efpeded by all the
world i befides he was wonderfully magnificent, his expeqfes almoft equalling
the Kings? which occaiion’d wh^jjifeours’d with him one day parti
cularly upon that Subjedf, to tell him, that he defir’d him to fpend every day one
Mamoudy lefs than he, that there might be fome difference between the expences of
a King and a Kan. ,
The noble qualities of this Iman-Kouli-Kan had gain’d the affe&ions of the
people? for he was magnificent and liberah highly recompenc’d brave Soldiers
and Students ? he lov’d Strangers, and had a particular' care to cherilh Arts and
Sciences. To which purpofe he built a fair Colledg at Scbiras^ for the inftiudfion
of Youth? and feveral Inns, as well in the City as upon the Roads ? for the Tra
vellers. He caus’d Mountains to be cut thorough to (horten the way } and join’d
others by Bridges, of fuch an advanturous Strudure, that it is hard to conjtdhire
how fuch prodigious Arches could be made over fuch yaft Precipices and
Torrents.
Now in regard Jman-Kouli-Kan was ftrick’n in years, he feldom went to
Court, chufing rather to continue in his Government, where he was belov’dand
refpe&ed by all men. But the King being young, and the Government of the
Kingdom in the hands of the Queen-Mother and the Atbemadoukt, who were
extreamly jealous of the Km, thofe two perfons link’d together in Intereft for
the maintenance of the Kings Authority and their own, fretted to fee the
Kd«’s Court almoft as fplendid as the Kings ? and that nothing of the Reve
nue of Schiraf) Lar, Ormus, or any part of the Perfian Golf came to the Kings
Coffers, as being folely at the difpofal of the Kan ? but that on the contrary,
the King was oblig’d to fend him Money to pay the Army. But that which
troubled the Queen-Mother moft of all, was the pretention the K^’s eldeft
Son to the Crown, who was alfo a perfon of a daring and wnbkious courage.
For the Kings of Perfia efteem it a great Honour to beftow upon any K^» or
great Lord, one of their Wives out of their Royal Haramyand Sba-Abbas
had given to Iman-Koult-Kan one of his own proper W ives, whom he lov’d
extrearnly. ’Tis thought that when (he left the Haram jfihe was three months
gone with Child by Sba-Abbas ^ for feme what above fix months, after (he was
bedded by the Kan, (he lay-in of a Son, of which the King was the reputed
father, and who being born before Sba-Sefi, pretended a right before him to
the Throne. By vertue of this claim, contrary to the will of Sha-Abbas in
favour of Sha-Sefi, this ambitious Lord, who only pafs’d for the Kans eldeft
Son, vehemently follicited his Father to feize upon Sha-Sefi, and to make him-
felf King, or at leaft to op’n a way for him-to the Throne. Now it happen’d,
that one day being a hunting with 4he young King near Schiras, the impatient
young Lord coming to his Father? Sir, faid he, fee now the opportunity that
offers you the Throne? for I will go prefently and bring you Sha-Sefis head.
But the Kan holding his Son by the Arm, told him, that he would never con-
knt to the death of his King i protefting to him, rather to'dye a thoufand
deaths^ adding withall, that it was the Kings will to appoint Sha-Sefi to fuc-
ceed him, as being the Son of his Son, and confequcntly his lawful Heir: that
- / ' ‘■ ' the-