THE day being fixed for the interview with Abulfiez Khan King of Turan, Nadir Shah directed all his officers to appear in their most magnificient attire, in order to impress the unfortunate Prince with astonishment and awe. The Princes Reza Kuly Mirza, and Aly Kuly Khan, were on this occasion permitted to be seated, whilst the nobility stood as usual.

Abulfiez, attended by only a few of his courtiers, came on horseback from the city; but he was obliged to alight before he arrived at the royal quarters, and was conducted to the tent of Nadir Shah by Thamas Khan. When he entered the tent, Reza Kuly Mirza, and Aly Kuly Khan stood up, and paid him their compliments; whilst Nadir Shah only answered his salutation verbally, without deigning to rise from his throne. The different reception which he gave to Mohammed Shah, may be ascribed to his being awed by the splendour and magnificence of the court of Hindostan; or to his not being then so far intoxicated with success, as to have forgotten the forms of respect due from one monarch to another. It is even possible that his breast was not yet bereft of every generous sentiment, and that he felt the double sensation of respect and of com­passion. After sitting in this manner for near two hours, the King of Turan was conducted to a tent, pitched at some distance from Nadir Shah’s quarters. Mirza Mohammed Ibrahim Isfahany was appointed his Mehmander, or host.

The third day after the interview, Nadir Shah concluded a double marriage. Himself took to wife the sister of Abul­fiez Khan; and his nephew Aly Kuly Khan, wedded the daughter of that monarch.

After the conclusion of these ceremo­nies, Abulfiez Khan, in token of his entire submission, sent to Nadir Shah, by Hakeem Ataleek, the diadem which he had himself worn, together with three hundred camels, two hundred horses, and twenty Persian manuscripts most beauti­fully written. Nadir Shah returned the crown to Abulfiez Khan, with a message that he was to consider himself King of Mahawerulnehr*. The cattle were sent to the stables; and the books were divided amongst Mehdy Khan the Munshy ul Memalick*, Mirza Zuckee and others. It seemed as if the books had been sent to exemplify the following verse of the Koran: “Thofe who possess learning, and do not practise what it teaches, resemble asses loaded with books.” These were the only fruits of Nadir Shah’s conquest of Turan, in making which he had nothing in view, but to show the irresistible force of his arms. He gave away upwards of three lacks of rupees in presents; and his mili­tary expences amounted to an immense sum.

Bokhara, from being the residence of the monarch, is the finest city in Turan. As I was the deputy of Mirza Moham­med Ibrahim, the Dewan of the house­hold, who was ordered to entertain the King of Turan, I had the best opportu­nities of seeing every thing that is curious in the country, amongst which are the tombs of the holy men celebrated at full length by Jami, in his poem entitled Reshehat. Also on account of my office I had a share of every kind of provi­sions, and fruits, that were sent to Nadir Shah, by the governors of differ­ent places. The inhabitants of Turan, when compared with those of Turkey, Persia, and Hindostan, may be said to be poor in point of money, and the luxuries of life; but in lieu thereof, the Almighty has given them abundance of most exqui­site fruits; with robust forms, and healthy constitutions, the greatest of earthly blessings.

In reflecting upon the poverty of Turan and Arabia, I was at first at a loss to assign a reason, why those countries had never been able to retain wealth, whilst, on the contrary, it is daily encreasing in Hindostan. Timour carried into Turan the riches of Turkey, Persia, and Hin­dostan, but they are all dissipated: and during the reigns of the four first Khalifs, Turkey, Persia, part of Arabia, Ethio­pia, Egypt, and Spain, were their tributaries; but still they were not rich. It is evident that this dissipation of the riches of a state, must have happened either from some extraordinary drains, or from some defect in the government. Hindostan has been frequently plundered by foreign invaders, and not one of its Kings ever gained for it any acquisition of wealth; neither has the country many mines of gold and silver, and yet Hin­dostan abounds in money, and every other kind of wealth. The abundance of spe­cies, is undoubtedly owing to the large importation of gold and silver in the ships of Europe, and other nations, many of whom bring ready money in exchange for the manufactures and natural productions of the country. If this is not the cause of the prosperous state of Hindostan, it must be owing to the peculiar blessing of God.