I.
1530-1744.
[Genealogy
-
Death
of
old
champion,
his
great-great-grandfather
at
110,
fighting
five
Janizaries
-
Author
born
at
Hamadan,
1726
-
To
Bagdad
in
1731-33
-
Besieged
by
Nadir
Shah
-
His
defeat
-
A
second
siege
-
Nadir
retires
-
Grandfather
Michael
-
Mr.
Dorrel,
resident
of
Basra
-
Ahmad
Pashas
levée
-
"A
European
army
could
take
Bagdad
in
five
days"
-
Authors
father
goes
to
Bengal
-
Emin
to
Ispahan,
1742
-
A
kind
Turk
-
Michael
unjustly
imprisoned
-
Freed
through
Emin
-
To
Basra,
thence
to
India.
]
When
a
handful
of
people
exerting
themselves
to
be
called
a
nation
are
in
an
infant
state,
and
destitute
of
perfect
wisdom,
they
appear
like
an
innocent
hopeful
boy
in
the
eyes
of
the
Omnipotent.
A
new
state
resembles
an
elegant
lamp,
the
light
of
which,
if
the
ministers
are
wise,
they
will
always
be
watchful
in
preserving,
and
will
continue
from
time
to
time
to
pour
into
it
a
proper
quantity
of
pure
oil,
so
as
to
keep
it
burning
all
the
night
long;
and
this
is
the
case
with
the
excellent
Europeans,
whose
Christian
sovereignty,
as
the
writer
observes
with
peculiar
satisfaction,
had
its
rise
from
that
very
cause,
with
the
favour
of
the
most
merciful
God;
and
he
wishes
from
the
bottom
of
his
heart
that
they
may
preserve
it
as
long
as
the
frame
of
the
universe
shall
endure.
In
regard
to
the
Asiatics
or
Africans,
they,
when
in
prosperity,
are
generally
intoxicated
with
their
success,
and
rolling
in
all
manner
of
vices
(he
excepts
his
own
harmless
country),
and
continue
stumbling
in
their
soft
beds,
the
light
is
extinguished,
and
the
house
remains
in
total
darkness,
then
the
enemy
comes
with
sword
in
hand
cutting
them
off,
and
taking
possession
of
their
whole
territory.
When
he
thus
turned
his
wandering
thoughts
on
his
nation,
from
their
beginning
to
the
time
of
his
troublesome
undertaking,
he
observed
their
simplicity
and
weakness
of
mind,
as
yet
resembling
children
imposed
on
by
the
holy
divines
of
their
church;
he
resolved
therefore
to
lay
the
foundation
of
his
hope,
and
go
over
to
England
to
see
the
admirable
European
system
of
wise
laws
and
useful
regulations.
Before
he
begins
to
exhibit
his
imperfect
memoirs,
it
is
necessary
to
say
something
concerning
the
origin
of
his
family,
and
the
names
of
his
ancestors;
since
in
the
East,
he
that
denies
or
forgets
his
progenitors,
is
reckoned
harámzádah,
or
base-born.
Emin,
the
head
of
the
family,
was
called
the
First,
for
a
reason
well
known,
but
not
necessary
to
be
mentioned
here.
The
name
of
his
son
was
Abraham,
who
had
several
sons;
the
name
of
one
was
Astuatsatur,
or
Theodorus,
who
with
other
Armenians
emigrated
from
Armenia
(after
being
reduced
by
the
art
of
Shah
Abbas,
commonly
called
the
Great),
and
settled
in
the
town
of
Hamadan,
situated
at
the
foot
of
Mount
Alwend,
where
his
great-grandfather,
Emin
the
Second,
was
born.
When
a
proper
age,
he
followed
the
profession
of
his
forefathers,
enlisting
himself
in
the
military
service
of
that
barbarous
prince,
and
by
dint
of
courage
distinguished
himself
in
two
extraordinary
actions.
He
was
the
first
in
the
whole
army
to
scale
the
wall
of
Handchár
and
Bagdad,
knocking
down
the
centries;
the
rest
of
dovetababs,
or
resolute
selected
soldiers,
seconding
the
onset,
so
that
both
cities
were
taken
(this
he
had
heard
from
his
own
father
Hovsep):
he
was
consequently
promoted
to
the
honourable
post
of
minbafhy,
or
colonel
of
one
thousand
men:
but
his
singular
conduct
caused
his
ruin,
through
the
jealousy
of
that
ungrateful
Persian
nation,
who
took
from
him
all
his
estate,
and
reduced
him
to
the
lowest
poverty,
and
made
him
as
miserable
as
his
great-great-grandson
was
in
England,
who
judges
the
condition
of
his
venerable
ancestor
worse
than
his
own,
since
he
had
only
to
take
care
of
himself,
while
his
ancestor
had
four
sons
and
a
daughter
to
maintain.
He
went
therefore
as
a
choush
or
guard
to
the
caravans,
and
after
that
became
a
leader
or
conductor
for
some
years;
till
having
raised
a
small
capital,
he
settled
and
married
his
children,
bought
land,
planted
a
garden,
thus
working
and
amusing
himself
till
he
was
an
hundred
and
ten
years
of
age.
In
the
time
of
Shah
Sultan
Hussain,
in
the
year
1722,
Ahmad
Pasha,
governor
of
Bagdad,
marched
with
an
immense
army
and
attacked
the
town
of
Hamadan,
and
after
a
siege
of
three
months,
took
the
place
by
storm,
destroyed
60.
000
Mahometan
Persians
in
three
days
and
three
nights,
and
killed,
in
cool
blood,
800
Armenians
in
their
church.
Emins
family
hiding
themselves
in
a
kahriz,
that
is
to
say,
subterranean
cavity,
in
the
house
made
for
that
very
purpose,
this
brave
veteran
(his
great-grandfather)
would
by
no
means
be
persuaded
to
conceal
himself
with
his
family,
saying
these
very
words:
"My
dear
children,
I
dreamed
last
night
that
a
great
fall
of
snow
was
so
very
deep
as
to
cover
the
crown
of
my
head.
This
is
the
last
day
of
my
life,
wherein
I
am
to
be
sacrificed.
You
will
all
be
made
captives,
but
not
defiled
with
the
foul
hands
of
infidels;
my
grandson
Michael
will
deliver
you.
Behold
it
is
beneath
me
to
be
afraid
of
the
Turks!
that
in
my
youthful
days
I
have
driven
an
hundred
of
them
before
my
horse.
Whenever
the
two
armies,
Persians
and
Turks,
came
to
an
engagement,
I
was
always
the
first
that
challenged
the
Turkish
army
in
single
combat;
I
have
cut
off
the
heads
of
my
antagonists,
which
I
carried
and
presented
to
the
cruel
Shah
Abbas,
(the
old
way
of
making
war
remains
to
this
day
unaltered,
when
two
armies
face
each
other,
hostility
begins
by
single
combatants,
)
and
with
my
corps
of
cavalry
I
used
to
make
a
way
by
breaking
the
enemys
columns.
Depart
and
be
blessed;
-
let
me
now
make
my
last
will.
"
Then,
taking
his
great-grandson
Hovsep
in
his
affectionate
arms,
and
giving
him
more
blessings
than
the
rest,
he
spoke
the
following
words:
"This
is
my
beloved
boy,
whom
Providence
will
favour;
his
male
child
shall
be
baptised
Emin,
after
my
name,
who,
by
Gods
assistance,
will
lift
up
the
sword
of
defence
to
revenge
the
cause
of
his
country
and
the
blood
of
his
ancestors,
that
was
shed
for
the
truth,
and
in
the
most
sacred
path
of
Christianity.
Never
despair,
Mahometanism
shall
fail,
and
will
be
subdued
under
as
true
believers
in
God,
through
our
Saviour
Jesus,
and
your
posterity
shall
see
the
golden
age
first
when
the
sheep
and
wolf
shall
graze
together,
seeing
them
all
very
well
secured.
"
He
took
his
Herculean
club,
and
sat
himself
down
on
a
brick
bench
behind
the
fastened
gate
of
the
house,
when,
on
a
sudden,
five
blood-thirsty
Janizaries
broke
open
the
door
with
pole
axes.
The
bold
veteran
seeing
it,
stood
his
ground
to
receive
the
assailants
armed
with
guns,
pistols,
and
swords.
He
knocked
one
of
them
down
on
the
ground
almost
speechless,
and
struck
out
the
eye
of
another;
(whom
we
have
seen
at
Bagdad
several
years
after,
named
Abbas,
by
trade
a
horse-dealer;
)
two
of
them
being
disabled,
the
other
three
not
daring
to
cope
with
him
sword
in
hand,
retired
to
a
little
distance,
fired
their
pieces
together,
and
killed
Emin;
after
which
they
took
possession
of
the
house
full
of
European
goods,
to
the
amount
of
5,
000
tumans.
When
the
Turks
had
sufficiently
exercised
their
cruelties
on
the
Persians
for
three
days,
a
proclamation
was
issued
from
Ahmed
Basha,
to
abstain
from
destroying
any
more;
and
this
encouraged
the
concealed
people
to
come
out
from
their
holes:
presently
after,
came
fresh
orders
from
head
quarters,
to
enslave
them.
Fortunately
a
Turkish
Aga,
or
great
officer
in
the
army,
was
acquainted
with
the
authors
grandfather
Michael,
and
with
Ahmed
Bassas
Ferman
in
his
hand,
came
just
at
that
critical
time
when
the
diabolical
Turks
were
going
to
lay
violent
hands
on
them.
He
thus
preserved
the
honour,
and
made
a
bargain
with
them
both
for
males
and
females,
amounting
to
sixty-five
souls,
at
twelve
tuman
per
head,
the
whole
sum
amounting
to
780
tumans,
which,
at
twenty
rupees
to
each
tuman,
makes
15,
600
rupees,
paid
by
Michael
before-named,
who
arriving
from
Bagdad
a
few
days
after
the
slaughter,
took
the
mangled
body
of
the
old
champion
from
among
the
dead
victims
of
his
religion,
and
buried
it
in
the
church
with
great
solemnity.
Hamadan
being
then
settled
under
the
Turkish
government,
Emins
youngest
son,
Aratun,
at
the
distance
of
two
days
journey
from
that
town,
with
400
tumans
sewed
up
in
his
quilted
waistcoat,
was
murdered
by
some
Persians
while
he
was
sleeping.
In
the
year
1726,
Emin,
the
writer
of
these
memoirs,
was
born
at
Hamadan,
and
in
1731
or
1733,
he
went
with
his
family
to
Bagdad.
Presently
after,
the
Turks
had
evacuated
Hamadan.
In
that
very
year
(if
he
is
not
mistaken),
his
father
Hovsep
was
gone
to
Basra,
and
before
that,
his
grandfather
to
Bengal,
to
buy
articles
of
commerce.
In
the
meanwhile
the
town
of
Bagdad
was
surrounded
by
Thahmaz
Kulykhan,
afterwards
Nadir
Shah,
the
deliverer
of
Persia.
During
a
siege
of
full
nine
months,
his
mother
and
his
next
youngest
brother
died
of
common
disorders,
but
not
for
want,
although
the
Mahometans
were
reduced
to
eat
the
flesh
of
horses,
asses,
dogs,
cats,
and
mice;
but
his
grandfathers
father
took
care,
three
months
before,
to
lay
up
wheat,
barley,
corn,
grain
of
all
sort,
which
saved
the
family
from
starving
with
the
rest
of
the
inhabitants.
In
the
end,
Nadir
Shah
was
defeated
by
Thopall
Osman
Basha;
and
Emins
grandfather
came
soon
after
from
India,
exactly
forty
days
after
Thopall
Osmans
army
was
routed
by
Nadir,
who
laid
siege
again
to
Bagdad,
and
continued
his
operations
about
three
months,
the
garrison
being
almost
exhausted
for
want
of
provision,
men,
ammunition,
etc.
When
Ahmad
Basha
was
very
near
reaching,
with
reluctance,
the
brink
of
capitulation,
news
arrived
that
Khorasan
was
in
danger
from
the
Osbeg
Tartars,
and
the
whole
kingdom
was
not
far
from
revolt;
which
circumstance
obliged
Nadir
to
make
peace
with
Ahmad;
so
that
he
marched
back,
and
left
Bagdad
in
quiet.
Here
his
great-grandfather,
a
man
of
great
faith
and
extraordinary
natural
talents,
instilled
many
notions
into
his
head
concerning
the
origin
of
his
ancestor;
which
need
not
here
be
mentioned,
as
it
might
be
taken
for
a
romance.
This
venerable
man
died
at
Bagdad,
aged
eighty-two
years.
Emins
grandfather,
Michael,
was
almost
ruined
by
an
Armenian
treacherous
informer,
named
Kardash,
but
for
the
protection
of
one
Mr.
Dorrel,
resident
at
Basra,
who
happened
to
be
then
at
Bagdad,
and
was
much
taken
notice
of
by
its
governor
Ahmad,
who
grew
so
very
fond
of
him,
that
he
used
to
call
him
My
Balioz
Beg.
It
may
not
be
unpleasant
to
insert
here
what
passed
one
day
at
Ahmads
levee:
after
he
had
shown
the
English
gentleman
the
fortifications
of
Bagdad,
the
pashé
said,
it
was
so
strong,
that
Nadir
Shah
could
not
take
it;
and
still
continued
pressing
to
know
his
opinion
of
it,
Mr.
Dorrel
answered
the
question
in
these
words:
"May
it
please
your
highness,
if
an
European
army
besieged
it
instead
of
Nadir,
they
would
have
taken
the
place
in
five
days
time.
"
Which
expression
made
the
Basha
turn
pale,
and
he
said,
"Gavoor,
if
I
had
not
sworn,
I
would
cut
off
your
head.
"
A
similar
sarcasm
was
made
by
an
English
groom,
who
attended
the
late
King
of
Prussia:
-
His
majesty
one
day,
before
he
mounted
his
horse,
began
to
reflect
on
the
late
Duke
of
Cumberland,
and
his
defeat
by
field-marshal
Saxe:
the
English
groom
could
not
swallow
the
bitter
pill;
and,
while
he
was
stroking
the
horses
mane,
he
said,
loud
enough
to
be
well
heard,
"O
poor
horse,
I
wish
you
could
speak,
you
would
ask
his
Prussian
Majesty,
who
ran
away
first
at
such
a
battle,
for
you
are
the
very
English
horse
he
then
mounted.
"
Michael,
being
much
reduced
through
that
wicked
Armenian,
and
hearing
of
Nadir
Shahs
conquest
of
the
Afghans,
the
Osbeg
Tartars,
and
Indostan,
while
Persia
enjoyed
abundance
and
peace,
thought
it
necessary
to
send
his
wife,
with
four
sons
(Moses,
David,
Melchisedech,
Malachi)
and
a
daughter,
back
to
Hamadan,
together
with
his
grandson
Emin,
who
was
then
about
eleven
years
of
age.
At
that
time,
a
horse-load
of
fine
flour
was
sold
for
a
single
rupee,
grapes
of
the
same
quantity
for
five
abbasis,
or
two
rupees;
in
a
word,
every
thing
was
cheap
in
proportion.
A
year
after,
his
father
Hovsep
returned
from
Basra,
with
a
dreadful
illness,
so
that
it
appeared
impossible
for
him
to
recover;
but
with
care,
helped
by
the
extraordinary
excellence
of
the
climate,
superior
to
any
other
in
Orahstan
Persia,
he
recovered
his
health,
and
married
a
second
time.
Not
long
after,
came
his
grandfather
from
Bagdad,
with
as
much
indisposition.
But
this
tranquillity
did
not
last
long;
Nadirs
zeal,
compassion,
and
humanity,
were
changed
into
cruelty.
The
villanous
and
wicked
Persians
began
to
oppress,
and
exact
money;
presently
famine
ensued.
On
one
hand,
the
subjects
were
obliged
to
pay
the
kings
tax:
and,
on
the
other,
with
inexpressible
difficulty
to
provide
bread
for
their
families.
To
withstand
the
shock
of
this
enormous
oppression,
the
authors
family
were
forced
to
sell
their
houses
and
goods
for
a
tenth
part
of
their
value.
Before
this
calamity
began,
his
three
uncles
went
to
Khorasan,
and
his
father
to
Bengal,
for
the
purpose
of
trade.
Some
years
after,
he,
being
then
sixteen
years
of
age,
heard
that
one
of
his
uncles
was
gone
to
Gilan;
and
his
grandfather,
observing
his
military
disposition,
lest
he
should
enlist
himself
in
Nadirs
service,
thought
it
prudent
to
let
him
go
to
Gilan,
there
to
amuse
himself
with
his
uncle
for
some
time,
so
as
to
be
prevented
at
least
from
his
supposed
resolution.
His
grandfather
was
obliged
to
leave
behind
him
his
wife,
with
their
youngest
son
and
a
daughter,
together
with
the
authors
mother-in-law,
and
fled;
whence
he
sent
for
Emin,
who
set
out
with
his
uncle
in
a
caravan
as
far
as
Casbin;
his
uncle
went
to
Hamadan,
to
relieve
his
mother,
brother,
sister
and
other
relations:
Emin,
with
another
caravan,
set
out
for
Ispahan.
He
had
a
fever,
or
was
much
indisposed,
when
he
set
out
for
that
place.
No
sooner
were
they
parted
than
he
being
alone,
and
having
no
other
Christian
to
help
him,
the
Mahomedan
Persians
began
their
usual
barbarity;
every
hour
in
the
day
inviting
him
to
their
false
religion,
then
using
him
ill
with
abusive
language,
all
the
way
to
the
town
of
Kom,
where
he
was
obliged
to
change
the
charvadar
(or
the
man
that
hires
his
ass
to
travellers).
And
when
he
reached
the
city
of
Cashan,
the
caravan
pitched
in
the
middle
of
the
court
of
a
caravansarai,
exposed
to
the
heat
of
the
sun
in
July;
the
other
travellers
had
their
tents,
but
Emin
had
none
to
rest
under.
Luckily
for
him,
the
people
of
the
caravan
halted
there
a
week,
and
his
charvadar
was
a
Turk,
otherwise
he
might
have
been
destroyed
at
Cashan.
On
the
first
day
of
their
arrival
there,
he
having
scarce
eaten
anything
for
several
days
before,
went
to
a
cooks
shop,
with
a
voracious
appetite,
and
made
a
very
hearty
dinner
upon
strong
broth
of
sheeps
head
and
feet,
in
which
was
mixed
a
great
quantity
of
vinegar
with
garlic,
to
make
it
more
palatable
for
him,
whose
ague
and
fever
used
to
attack
him
every
other
day.
No
sooner
was
he
out
of
the
place,
than
he
found
himself
as
thirsty
as
Mahomedans
are
for
the
blood
of
Christians;
and
he
went
three
times
down
sixty
steps
or
more,
to
the
evambar,
or
reservoir
of
water,
built
at
Cashan
by
the
late
Shah
Abbas.
The
place
was
so
very
cold
that
his
thirst
was
instantly
quenched,
and,
when
he
came
up
again,
he
was
as
dry
as
ever,
and
grew
quite
senseless.
Not
knowing
what
to
do
with
himself,
seeing
a
boy
about
ten
years
of
age
with
a
large
gurglet
of
water
on
his
shoulder,
Emin
ran,
at
the
hazard
of
his
life,
forced
it
from
him,
struck
off
the
neck
of
the
vessel,
and
drank
the
whole,
which
was
almost
four
bottles
of
English
measure.
While
the
poor
boy
went
to
acquaint
his
Mahomedan
parents
of
the
rash
behaviour
of
a
Christian,
sick
as
he
was,
yet
through
fear
of
being
stoned
to
death,
he
took
to
the
hills
and
made
his
escape;
but
going
all
in
a
flutter,
he
threw
himself
on
his
bed
under
the
intense
heat
of
the
sun,
where
he
lay
delirious
all
the
time
from
Wednesday
noon
till
nine
oclock
on
Saturday
evening:
he
then
awoke
all
of
a
sudden,
when,
opening
his
eyes,
he
found
himself
lying
on
his
quilt,
a
part
of
it
being
rolled
under
his
breast,
and
discovered
a
black
mark
on
the
white
ground,
five
feet
in
length
and
as
much
in
breadth,
when
he
perceived
it
to
be
the
mark
of
blood
from
his
nose:
it
immediately
occurred
to
him,
that
his
poor
mother
died
at
Bagdad
of
a
bleeding
at
the
nose;
he
was
a
little
alarmed
at
this
circumstance,
but
more
at
its
continuation:
in
the
meantime
he
saw
his
honest
charvadar,
with
a
drawn
scimitar
in
his
hand,
standing
over
his
head.
He
took
it
for
granted
the
Turk
was
going
to
make
an
end
of
him,
and
crying
out
boldly
to
the
man,
"Why
are
you
waiting,
friend?
make
your
blow
good,
strike
home,
let
me
die
in
the
truth
of
my
faith,
"
and
stretched
out
his
neck
to
receive
the
stroke
which
he
expected.
To
his
great
surprise,
the
honest
Turk
said
to
him
with
a
mild
voice
in
these
very
words:
"Be
easy,
Armenian
lad,
poor
in
body,
bold
in
mind,
you
have
been
almost
dead
for
these
three
days;
the
Persians
wanted
to
take
you
by
the
legs
and
throw
you
into
that
deep
hole;
I
drew
my
sword,
and
watched
all
the
time;
I
saw
there
was
life
in
you,
your
pulse
beating
slowly.
This
morning,
when
your
nose
began
to
bleed,
I
lifted
you
up
with
my
own
hands,
and
laid
you
on
your
bed,
so
as
not
to
stain
your
clothes.
By
degrees
I
observed
as
the
blood
ran,
you
began
to
draw
breath
better
and
better;
let
it
run,
do
not
be
afraid;
I
think
it
is
the
work
of
God,
who
sees
the
heart
of
us
all,
saw
you
true
to
your
own
faith,
and
saved
you
from
perishing
by
the
hands
of
these
diabolical
Persians.
It
is
through
their
own
wickedness
that
God
has
delivered
them
into
the
hands
of
us
Turkomans,
and
has
sent
Nadir
Shah
to
plague
them.
Take
courage,
put
thy
trust
in
God,
he
will
preserve
thee
from
all
evil
doers;
I
am
your
real
friend
as
you
have
pronounced
me,
and
that
also
is
by
the
will
of
God.
"
These
consolatory
expressions
from
that
brave
man,
with
a
continuation
of
the
discharge
of
blood,
made
the
author
almost
well;
but
his
mind
was
uneasy,
in
not
having
it
in
his
power
to
show
his
gratitude,
since
his
miserable
uncle
had
given
him
but
twelve
rupees
at
Casbin,
though
he
had
with
him
sixteen
bales
of
raw
silk
of
Gilan.
Next
day
the
caravan
set
out,
and
the
author.
When
he
arrived
at
Julpha
(the
suburbs
of
Ispahan),
he
found
his
grandfather
both
sick
and
poor,
for
want
of
the
money
which
he
had
before
desired
his
son
Melchisedech,
at
Gilan,
to
remit
to
him,
when
he
wanted
Emin
to
come
to
him.
The
old
gentleman
in
a
few
days
recovered
his
health,
and
Emin
fell
again
into
a
very
dangerous
illness
for
five
months,
without
being
able
to
leave
his
bed,
without
a
servant
to
attend
him,
or
money
to
procure
medical
assistance,
he
drunk
water
all
the
while,
but
scarce
eat
anything.
Six
rupees
the
remainder
part
out
of
his
twelve,
lasted
till
they
received
200
rupees
from
his
father
in
Calcutta;
who
desired
his
own
father,
Michael,
to
send
or
bring
Emin
along
with
him
thither.
His
illness
saved
him
from
being
starved,
which
would
probably
have
been
the
case
if
he
had
been
in
perfect
health.
As
for
his
grandfather
he
made
a
shift
to
live,
being
entertained
by
a
rich
Armenian
merchant,
named
Evanes
of
Noofnoos,
a
village
in
Nakhchovan
Armenia,
who
had
been
formerly
a
servant
of
Emins
grandfather.
This
gentleman
had
a
dislike
to
the
author,
because
his
father,
in
his
youthful
days,
had
beaten
him
for
some
misdemeanor.
When
winter
approached,
Emin
began
to
open
his
eyes
from
his
illness,
getting
strength
every
day,
when
a
Persian
Beg
of
Hamadan,
an
officer
in
the
kings
army,
without
cause
or
reason,
took
Michael
up,
and
made
him
a
prisoner
in
his
own
house,
in
one
of
the
streets
of
Ispahan,
called
Shamsabad
(or
the
Dwelling
of
the
Sun),
under
a
false
pretence
that
he
was
a
fugitive
from
Hamadan.
He
was
kept
three
days,
with
a
view
of
exacting
a
sum
of
money:
the
Beg,
considering
the
meekness
of
the
grand-father,
and
not
having
experienced
the
spirit
of
the
grandson,
who
made
it
his
business
from
Julpha,
twice
every
day,
to
call
on
both
the
old
gentleman
and
the
officer;
and,
finding
the
unmanly
intention
of
the
Beg,
he
threatened
him,
and
went
immediately
to
complain
to
Nadir
Shah,
then
at
Ispahan.
When
he
came
to
the
gate
of
the
palace,
he
found
there
an
officer,
or
one
of
the
Arza
Begs
deputies,
who
said
to
him,
"What
do
you
want,
young
Armenian?"
He
answered,
that
he
came,
first,
to
be
enlisted;
and
then,
to
complain
to
his
majesty
of
a
man,
who,
without
justice
or
the
kings
order,
had
made
his
grandfather
a
prisoner
on
purpose
to
extort
a
sum
of
money
from
him.
He
said,
"Stay
a
little,
I
will
conduct
you
to
the
king;
but,
tell
me
the
truth,
are
not
you
afraid
of
Nadir
Shah?"
pointing
to
the
Persians
brought
out
in
the
arms
of
the
servants,
some
strangled,
some
with
their
brains
knocked
out,
others
with
their
ears
and
noses
cut
off.
He
answered
without
emotion,
"They
deserved
it,
and
are
well
paid
in
their
own
coin":
and
added,
that
he
would
serve
the
magnanimous
king
truly
and
faithfully,
like
the
rest
of
the
Armenians,
who
fought
bravely,
and
are
well
indulged
by
his
majesty,
like
his
own
children:
for
Nadir,
in
all
his
reign,
never
hurt
an
Armenian,
except
two
of
the
chief
merchants
of
Julpha,
who
had
sworn
falsely
by
his
head,
and
were
burnt
alive
in
the
grand
square
of
Ispahan
in
the
year
1746.
The
officer,
hearing
Emins
sentiments,
consented
with
all
possible
cheerfulness
and
affability;
and
was
going
to
enter
the
gate,
in
order
to
present
him
when
his
grandfather
and
the
fellow
who
had
confined
him,
were
come
down
on
their
knees,
laying
hold
both
of
the
kings
officers
and
Emins
feet,
begging
them
not
to
proceed
further,
and,
with
much
difficulty,
prevented
them
at
last;
which
pacified
Emin.
The
good-natured
officer,
in
a
great
passion
menaced
the
villain,
and
said
to
him,
"It
was
lucky
for
you,
this
Armenian
lads
grandfather
came
with
you,
otherwise
not
only
yourself
would
suffer,
but
all
your
followers
would
have
shared
the
same
fate;
you
would
have
been
hanged
as
so
many
dogs,
like
the
rest
of
your
wicked
countrymen;
you
see
they
are
dragged
away
from
his
presence.
"
The
fellow
looked
as
pale
as
death,
and
sneaked
away,
frightened
out
of
his
senses.
The
officer
then
said
to
Emin,
"Go,
my
brave
boy,
serve
your
old
grandfather,
and
obtain
his
blessing;
I
see
in
your
countenance,
that
one
day
you
will
become
a
great
man;
then
remember
what
I
have
told
you.
"
The
Armenians
thanked
him
with
their
best
respects,
and
went
back
to
Julpha.
But,
though
his
grandfather
was
pleased
with
the
daring
action
of
Emin,
he
still
was
in
fear
lest
he
should
one
day
take
the
same
resolution.
A
month
after,
Nadir
marched
with
his
invincible
army
from
that
place
towards
Mashhed;
and
Michael
thought
proper
to
set
out
with
the
author
in
a
caravan,
over
the
Gilan
mountains,
to
Basrah.
He
was
then
eighteen
years
of
age.
Nothing
extraordinary
happened
during
the
journey;
and,
when
they
reached
that
place,
they
did
not
stay
there
more
than
a
week,
but
embarked
in
a
hurry
on
board
of
an
Armenian
heavy-sailing
vessel.
In
fifty
days,
with
great
difficulty,
at
last
they
made
the
island
of
Cashin,
in
the
gulf
of
Persia.
Thence
they
sailed
to
Cannanor,
where
they,
with
several
Armenian
passengers,
were
put
on
shore
by
the
captain,
whose
name
was
Marut,
a
man
of
an
indifferent
character.
He
used
them
all
very
ill;
and
his
vessel
was
taken,
on
the
same
coast
of
Coromandel,
by
a
Portuguese
man
of
war.
They
went
to
Cochin,
where
they
stayed
five
months;
and
thence
back
to
Surat,
where
Emin
found
his
uncle
David,
who
took
great
care
of
him.
They
refreshed,
after
ten
months
fatigue
and
hardship;
he
cared
little
for
himself,
but
greatly
for
his
venerable
old
grandfather,
who
had
all
the
trouble
of
bringing
him
up
in
a
pious
way,
and
was
more
fond
of
him
than
of
all
his
six
sons
and
two
daughters.
As
the
authors
mother
died
young,
and
left
him
young,
he
was
also
taught
the
Armenian
language
by
his
grandfather,
and
lived
with
him
from
the
age
of
six
years
to
nineteen
or
twenty;
hence
he
knew
more
of
the
old
gentleman
than
all
his
own
children:
he
scarce
ever
saw
him
angry
in
all
that
whole
period;
he
prayed
first
for
his
enemies,
then
for
his
family.
When
the
unwelcome
news
was
brought
of
his
second
son
Moses,
who
was
killed
by
the
Akhwans
at
Tabriz,
he
shed
but
few
tears,
raised
up
his
head
and
hands
to
heaven,
thanked
and
glorified
God,
pronouncing
at
the
same
time
the
words
of
Job,
"God
has
given,
and
God
has
taken
away.
"
The
author
saw
this
with
his
own
eyes
in
Calcutta;
and,
when
absent,
was
informed
by
others,
that
when
his
other
three
sons,
and
a
daughter
died
at
different
times,
all
grown
up,
some
twenty-five,
some
thirty,
some
forty-five,
some
forty-two
years
old,
he
behaved
with
the
same
fortitude
and
Christian
patience:
in
a
word,
his
great
piety
was
equal
to
the
known
bravery
of
his
grandfather
Emin
the
Second.
NOTE.
[Page
2.
SHAH
ABBAS
of
Persia
reigned
from
1587
to
1629.
In
1603
he
seized
Old
Nakhichevan
and
Erivan.
To
prevent
the
Turks
(Osmanlis),
who
were
preparing
to
re-conquer
the
country,
from
obtaining
supplies
or
assistance
from
the
inhabitants,
he
forcibly,
with
indescribable
cruelties,
deported
the
Armenians
into
Persia.
Thousands
perished
by
the
way,
but
those
who
reached
their
journeys
end
were
given
land
to
settle
on,
for
the
Shah
desired
that
his
indolent
Persians
should
improve
by
learning
the
trades
and
handicrafts
practised
by
the
Armenians.
Page
3.
Shah
Suleiman
was
succeeded
in
1694
by
his
son
SHAH
SULTAN
HUSSEIN,
who
was
defeated,
deposed
and
confined
in
the
fortress
of
Ispahan
by
the
Afghans
under
Mahmoud
Shah
in
1722.
His
son
Thamasp
fled
to
Khorassan
and
Mahmoud
reigned
until
1725,
when
his
favourite
general
Ashraf
in
disgust,
or
pretended
disgust,
at
his
sovereigns
tyrannies,
strangled
him
and
became
Shah
himself.
In
the
second
year
of
Ashrafs
reign,
the
chief,
Mahmoud
of
Khorassan,
wishing
to
ingratiate
himself
with
the
Shah,
sent
his
favourite
camel-keeper,
the
robber
chief
Nadir,
to
him
with
presents,
offering
him
his
allegiance.
While
in
Ispahan
Nadir
plotted
against
Ashraf,
assuring
the
Persian
princes
that
he
could
easily
be
got
rid
of.
Returning
to
Khorassan,
he
offered
his
services
to
Thamasp
(the
rightful
heir)
at
the
head
of
500
war-hardened
Afshars
and
Kurds,
and
with
Thamasp
went
back
to
Ispahan
in
1728,
and
brought
about
the
downfall
of
Ashraf.
But
before
Ashraf
fled
for
his
life
to
Shiraz,
he
killed
Sultan
Hossein,
father
of
Thamasp,
and
in
turn
was
himself
killed
by
a
band
of
Baluchis
before
reaching
Shiraz.
Thamasp
ascended
the
throne
and
Nadir
became
his
commander-in-chief,
with
the
title
of
Thamasps
Kuli
Khan
(kuli
=
slave).
He
defeated
the
Afghans
at
Mehmand
and
at
Murebakar
in
1729,
later
on
incited
the
Persians
against
Thamasp,
seized
him
and
sent
him
prisoner
to
Khorassan.
A
campaign
against
Bagdad
followed,
and
a
victory
at
Bhagwand
in
1735.
He
became
Shah
in
1736.
He
drove
the
Afghans
out
of
Persia,
invaded
India,
and
defeated
Mohamed
Shah
at
Karnal
in
1738.
Then
came
his
triumphal
entry
into
Delhi,
whence
he
carried
away
the
famous
peacock
throne.
The
last
great
Asiatic
conqueror,
Nadirs
career
ended
with
his
assassination
in
1747.
He
was
born
in
Khorassan
about
the
year
1688.
]
