‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎297r] (600/722)

11 Snl. 1 hat they would hold no communications whatever with slave-
dealers.
4th.- -1 hat they should consent to furnish tribute and horsemen to the
Shah at stated intervals. ”
The required paper is said to ha.ve been ^iven ; but there is not a shadow
of reason for supposing 1 that the Turkumans considered themselves in any
way bound by such conditions, or had the slightest intention of acknowledg
ing the suzerainty of the Shah.
Abbas IVlirza having achieved these successes of Khurasan, began to
entertain the idea of extending the empire of Persia over a part of Afghan
istan. Shah Kainran, son of Muhammad Shah of Kabul, was at that time
the nominal ruler of Herat ; but the celebrated Yar Muhammad Khan was
his minister, and in fact exercised all real authority. Accordingly, Abbas
Mirza invited Yar Muhammad Khan to Mashhad to settle all differences
between Persia and Herat. Yar Muhammad Khan proceeded to Mashhad,
but found on his arrival that he had been drawn into a snare. Abbas Mirza
informed him that the Shah of Persia was no longer at war with Russia,
and that he was determined to assert his suzerainty over Herat. General
Fender states that the prince drew two of Yar Muhammad Khands teeth, in
the hope of inducing him to take a favourable view of the pretensions of the
Shah. Yar M u In mm ad Khan, however, refused to acknowledge in anyway
the suzerainty of the Shah, and was ultimately permitted, on the payment
of a considerable sum, to return to Herat.
Abbas Mirza now applied to the Shah for reinforcements to enable him
to effect the conquest of Herat. But Fateh Ali Shah found that his health
was failing, and that his end was drawing nigh; and being anxious that
his successor should he at the capital at the time of his demise, he summoned
Abbas Mirza to Tihran, and directed him to leave his son, Muhammad
Mirza, to conduct the war. Abbas Mirza accordingly proceeded to the
capital, taking with him three of the fallen chiefs of Khurasan.
Abbas Mirza was now anxious to return to Khurasan ; and although his
health was failing, and his father was anxious that he should not leave
Tihran, he ultimately proceeded to Mashhad. There his illness rapidly
increased, and he felt that his days were numbered. Twice every day he
proceeded on foot to the shrine of Imam Raza; but at length his last hour
arrived. He died in 1833, aged forty-six, and was buried beneath the
shrine of Imam Raza. Of all the hundred and fifty-nine sons of Fateh
Ali Shah, Abbas Mirza was the favourite of his father; and, although fickle
and passionate, he is said to have been the noblest of the race of^ Kajar.
Meantime Muhammad Mirza had commenced the siege of Herat; but tbe
news of the death of bis father Abbas Mirza compelled him to laise the
siege and return with all speed to Mashhad. From Mashhad he proceeded to
Tihran, where he was nominated heir to the throne by the aged Shah,
and at the same time appointed governor of Azerbaijan, which had so
long been held by his deceased father. His two brothers, however, had so
injured the province by their excessive peculations, that they^ were sent to
the state fortress at Ardabil; and one of the two, Kbusru Mirza, the same
who had been ambassador to the court of Russia, was deprived of eyesight,
as a punishment .for his delinquencies. Muhammad Mirza was only twenty-
eight years of age; but in consequence of his self-indulgence, he was much
enfeebled by gout. He was consequently only a nomuial governor. All the
real authority was exercised by,bis wazir Minister. , Mirza Abdul Kasim, who had