Note 153 — Chapter II
Reading edition
Shums-ood-deen Khan of Herat was a Populzye nobleman of very good family, and in great favour with Shah Kamran before the commencement of the siege of Herat. His sister was the Shah’s favourite wife, and he was entirely in his Majesty’s confidence. A position of so much power, however, made Yar Mahomed his enemy, and it was to escape the minister’s persecution that he deserted to the Persian camp on the approach of the invading army. Had he remained in the city, he would certainly have been imprisoned or assassinated, for the Shah was powerless to protect him. It was surmised, indeed, that his Majesty counselled, or at any rate connived at, his flight, as his only means of escape.