Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 3.12.5

3.12.5

The mention of Kaboul reminds me of the adjacent kingdom of Kandahar, at present tributary to Persia; to the subject of which I ought to devote one or two pages. Much ignorance prevails concerning that country, as well as on the political feeling which it creates between the governments of Persia and Hindoustan. The name of the capital is also Kandahar, which is the stronghold of this rich and fine kingdom. The desire of possessing the capital has been, for some ages, the cause of sanguinary wars between the Mogols and Persians. The great Ekbar wrested it from the latter, and kept it during the remainder of his reign. Chah-Abas the celebrated King of Persia took the city from Jehan-Guyre the son of Ekbar; and the treachery of the Governor Ali Merdan-kan delivered it into the hands of Chah-Jehan the son of Jehan-Guyre. Aly Merdan immediately placed himself under the protection of his new Sovereign; he had many enemies in his own country, and was too prudent to obey the summons of the Persian monarch, who called upon him to give an account of his government. Kandahar was again besieged and captured by the son of Chah-Abas, and afterwards twice unsuccessfully attacked by Chah-Jehan. The first failure was owing to the bad conduct or the perfidy of the Persian omrahs in the Great Mogol's service, the most powerful noblemen of his court, and strongly attached to their native country.