"دليل بلاد فارس، المجلد I ويشمل محافظات أستراباد، شاهرود-بوستان، خراسان، وسيستان" [و‎‎١‎٢‎٠] (٧٢٢/٢٤٤)

most uncommon abilities. When Lutf AK marched towards Isfahan to
recover that city, he left this minister at Shiraz ) and he took advantage of
the trust to ruin his prince, and to transfer the fortunes of the Zand family
to that of the Kajars. It is urged by his friends that he knew it was Lutf
All’s intention to put him to death, if he returned; but this is not easily
reconciled to the circumstance of that prince having left him in sole charge
of his family and capital.
“ Onthenightof the 18th Zi-l-Hijjat* 1204 (1790 A. Lb), when the army
was within three miles of Isfahan, Muhammad Husain Khan, brother of
Hap Ibrahim, in consequence of a preconcerted plan, raised an alarm in camp,
and fled with the troops under their command. This example was followed
by most others ; and Lutf All, left with a few attendants, and ignorant of the
cause of the alarm or defection of his army, hastened to Shiraz, where he
soon became acquainted with the extent of his misfortune, as he was refused
admittance, and those even who had attended his person attempted to kill
him. In this extreme he ded to the country of Dashtistan on the sea-shore.
“ Hap Ibrahim immediately sent a messenger to Agha Muhammad to
acquaint him that he would deliver up the fort of Shiraz to whoever he
chose to send, as it was his desire to put an end to war that had so long
desolated the country. Agha Muhammad received this news in Armenia, and
despatched for Shiraz 8,000 men in three divisions at three different periods,
under his chief officers Mustafa Kuli Khan, Bala Kajar, Jan Muhammad
Khan, and Raza Kuli Khan.
“ Lutf Ali heard of their approach ; and though he could only assemble
between four and five hundred men, he scorned to give up the struggle ;
and, advancing towards Shiraz, he attacked the Kajar generals, separately
and combined, and always with success. In the last great action he had with
them he took prisoner Raza Kuli Khan, with 1,200 men, to whom he
behaved with great cruelty.
“ Agha Muhammad, on receiving these accounts, advanced with his whole
army, which amounted to about 60,000 men. When encamped within
three days of Shiraz, Lutf Ali, concealing his want of numbers under
the shade of night, attacked with a body not exceeding 500 this immense
force. He completely surprised the camp—all was terror and confusion.
Pie had advanced close to the tent of Agha Mirhammad; and had he proceeded,
he would have been sovereign of Persia by one of the most bold and
wonderful actions that ever was recorded in history. But he unfortunately
listened to a pretended friend, who assured him that Agha Muhammad and
every soldier of his army had fled, and that only the baggage and treasure
remained; and that if he attempted to seize that before morning, he would
lose in a promiscuous plunder what, if preserved, would make him a rich
monarch. Thus deceived, he waited till day; and when that broke, an
extraordinary spectacle was presented. Agha Muhammad, surrounded by
about 10,000 of his army, mostly ' the infantry, which were all that re
mained, and the victorious Lutf AH Khan, a few hundred yards from his
tent, with about fifty horsemen, the rest having separated to plunder.
Lutf AH Khan, of course, fled. Agha Muhammad advanced and took
possession of Shiraz, where he remained till the whole of his army reassem
bled. Some of the fugitives did not stop till they reached Tihran, which
is upwards of twenty days’ journey.
“ Agha Muhammad now assumed the sovereignty of all Persia. He seized
every relation of the Zand family, and those whom he did not put to death
he deprived them of sight. He distributed the women of Lutf AH Khan
* The last month of the Arabian year.
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