'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME I' [‎157r] (320/820)

supported by bis father, ’All Murad, at Tehian, remained at the town of Sari,
and detached a strong force under Muhammad Tahir to besiege Astarabad.
The success of these operations seemed certain, and Aoa Muhammad’s
ruin inevitable : he was saved by means as unexpected as extraordinary.
Hamza, a native of Mazandaran, who had been taken prisoner by Shaikh
Vaiz Khan, contrived to make his escape, and, flying to the mountains,
assembled a party of his countrymen, with whom he completely destroy
ed the grand causeway, by which Muhammad Tahir Khan Zand, who
was besieging Astarabad, received his supplies. The consequence of this
action was immediate distress for provisions in the camp of the besiegers,
—who, worn down by want and sickness, began to desert in all directions.
The troops in Astarabad, aided by the citizens and encouraged by the
wretched state of their enemies, made a general sally ; nor did they find it
difficult to overcome men already subdued by disease and famine. They
made a general slaughter of 6,000. Only one was spared to convey the in
telligence to Shaikh Vaiz Khan, who fled with precipitation to Teh
ran, where he found his father in the Isst stage of dropsy. This, added to
his misfortune at Astarabad, and the intelligence he received, that Ja’afar
Khan, whom he had entrusted with a command in Armenia, had rebelled,
made him resolve on retreating towards Isfahan, but he expired before
he reached that capital.
“ The troubles that followed that event in Fars were most favourable
for Aqa Muhammad, who not only regained Mazandaran, but also took
Tehran, and made it the capital of his government.
“ Ja’afar Khan, who had succeed ’Ali Murad at Isfahan, sent no less
than four armies against Aqa Muhammad, who successively defeated
them, and pursued his last victory so well that he got possession of Ka-
shan. Ja’afar Khan was so terrified at this success, that he precipitately
abandoned Isfahan, and fled, with a few followers, to Shiraz, leaving
behind him almost all his property. Aqa Muhammad took instant
advantage of this pusillanimous conduct, and in two days made himself
master of Isfahan, which war left totally defenceless. Ja’afar Khan establish
ed himself at Shiraz. Aqa Muhammad for the present contented himself
with settling the country round Isfahan, in which city he left a governor
and returned to his own capital, Teh an.
“ This year, 1788 A. D., was not more distinguished b) Aqa Muhammad’s
success against his enemies than by his cruelties to his friends, and particu
larly to his own family. The moment his power seemed fixed, he began to
show his real character, which he had before carefully disguised. He seized
and put out the eyes of his brother Mustafa Quli. His brother Mirza died
in an attempt to escape. Murtaza Quli Khan, another brother, fled to
the Empress Catherine, by whom he was honourably received ; and he was
treated with distinction by the Russians till he died. Of the nobles who
were put to death, the chief was ’Ali Khan Khamseh ; and Khusrti Khan,
Ardalani, despoiled of all his property, died in extreme misery.
“In the year 1789 A. D., Aqa Muhammad, who now governed all
Mazandaran, ’Iraq, and part of Armenia, advanced against Shiraz ; but
when within two days’ march of that city, retreated without effecting any
thing of importance.