mpanied his recital, the substance of which was nearly as
follows:--

Having by intrigues and assassinations made himself master of the regal
power at Shiraz, this monster of human kind found that the governor of
Ispahan, instead of adhering to him, had proclaimed the accession of the
lawful heir. No sooner was the intelligence brought to Nackee Khan than
he put himself at the head of his troops, and set forward to revenge his
contemned authority. When he arrived as far as Yezdikast, he encamped
his army for a short halt, near the tomb on the north side. Being as
insatiable of money as blood, he sent to the inhabitants of Yezdikast,
and demanded an immense sum in gold, which he insisted should instantly
be paid to his messengers. Unable to comply, the fact was respectfully
pleaded in excuse; namely, "that all the money the city had possessed
was already taken away by his own officers, and those of the opposite
party; and that, at present, there was scarce a tomaun in the place."
Enraged at this answer, he repaired, full of wrath, to the town, and,
ordering eighteen of the principal inhabitants to be brought before him,
again demanded the money, but with threats and imprecations which made
the hearers tremble. Still, however, they could only return the same
answer--"their utter inability to pay;" and the tyrant, without a
moment's preparation, commanded the men to be seized, and hurled from
the top of the precipice in his sight. Most of them were instantly
killed on the spot; others, cruelly maimed, died in terrible agonies
where they fell; and the describer of the dreadful scene was the only
one who survived. He could form no idea of how long he lay after
precipitation, utterly senseless; "but," added he, "by the will of God I
breathed again; and, on opening my eyes, found myself among the dead and
mangled bodies of my former neighbours and friends. Some yet groaned."
He then related, that, in the midst of his horror at the sight, he heard
sounds of yet more terrible acts, from the top of the cliff; and,
momentarily strengthened by fear of he knew not what, for he believed
that death had already grasped his own poor shattered frame, he managed
to crawl away, unperceived, into one of the numerous caverned holes
which perforate the foot of the steep. He lay there in an expiring
state the whole night, but in the morning was providentially discovered
by some of the town's people, who came to seek the bodies of their
murdere