‘GAZETTEER OF PERSIA VOL. I Comprising the Provinces of ASTARÁBÁD, SHÁHRUD-BÚSTAN, KHÚRÁSÁN, AND SÍSTÁN’ [‎299r] (604/722)

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The tribes, however, who possessed it, retired to the mountain fortress of
Siiknah, and the prince vainly endeavoured to dislodge them Meantime
the Khan of Khiva opened up communications with the Afghans of Herat,
with the view of forming a combination of Usbaks and Afghans against the
advance of the Persian Shiahs. The failure to dislodge the Turkumans at
Silknah imparted new courage to Yar Muhammad Khan at Herat. Shortly
after the event, Muhammad Shah sent a summons to the Herat ruler
demanding the payment of tribute, and that hostages should be sent to the
Persian camp for the future good behaviour of the Herat government. In
reply, the Shah was told that Shah Kamran would make him a present,
hut would give him no hostages ; and about the end of 1836, Muhammad
Shah was compelled to return to Tihran.
In 1837 Muhammad Shah once again set out for the eastward; and then
commenced that memorable siege of Herat, which lasted nine months. The
story of its defence by Yar Muhammad Khan, assisted by Lieutenant Eldred
Pottinger, nped not be repeated here. It will sutfice to say that, in the
spring of 1838, Mr. MacNeill, the English minister at the court of Persia,
arrived in the camp of the besiegers, and endeavoured to persuade the Shah
to abandon the siege; whilst Count Simonich, the Russian envoy extra
ordinary, prompted the Shah to renew his efforts for the capture of the
city. At length the Shah was told that the Persian occupation of Herat,
or of any portion of Afghanistan, would be regarded by Her Majesty’s
government as a hostile demonstration against England; and that five
ships-of-war had already arrived in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and taken possession
of the island of Karak. On the 2.3rd June 1838, the Shah made a final
and desperate effort to take Herat by assault; but was successfully repelled.
Ultimately, in 1838, the siege was raised. Subsequently, on the requisition
of the British government, the fortress of Ghurian was restored to the
Elerat ruler; and in 1841 the mission under Sir John MacNeill arrived at
Tihran, and was cordially 'received by Muhammad Shah. It might,
however, be added that the Persian envoy, Husain Khan, who had been
sent to London to bring about a different result, was punished for
his want of success in Western diplomacy by a severe application of the
bastinado.
Meantime there was a rising of the dangerous sect of Ismailites in
Karman. This sect of fanatics hold that the lawful successor to Imam
Jafar, the fifth Imam, was his son Ismail; and hence they were called by
the name of Ismaiiites. The chiefs of this sect based their claim to
spiritual power on the ground that they were descended from the last chief
of the assassins, who was popularly known as “ the old man of the mountain.
In the early years of the reign of Fateh Alt Shah, the chief of tne
Ismailites resided at Tazd, and was unfortunately slain in an affray between
his servants and some shop-keepers. The Shah was greatly concerned at
this occurrence, as he feared lest the Ismailites should hold him responsible.
The actual perpetrators had been put to death by the Ismailites; but
Eateh All Shah sent for the ringleader of the disturbance, and ordered
that the man should be flogged and otherwise severely punished in his
presence. Fateh AH Shah also adopted the son of the muideied chief,
and added considerably to the estates which the boy inherited from his father.
This boy was named Agha Khan. W^hilst Muhammad Shah was letuimng
from Herat, this Agha Khan put forward his claim to spiritual power; and
took possession of Karman. The rising speedily gathered stiengti, an