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25 by several other towns. The disheartened Afghans returned to Isfahan from every quarter. When Mahmud heard of these occurrences all over the country, he feared lest Isfahan might share the same fate. He had not sufficient troops at his command. His army was reduced to about 15,000 men, while the male population of Isfahan and its suburbs was still in proportion of more than 20 to 1 to the Afghans. The probable revolt of the capital seemed the most immediate danger, so Mahmud resolved to have recourse to strict measures in order to safeguard his position. He arrested some of the Persian nobles and put them under strong custody. He then recruited many Kurds in his army, because he could get little help from Kandahar at this critical juncture. Aided by these new levies, Mahmud now made every effort to make himself master of the principal cities of southern Persia. He had little difficulty in reducing Kelpaigan, Khwansar and Kashan. Nassarullah Gabr, who had joined Mahmud in Kirman when he first entered Persia, was now employed to conquer the province of Fars. He succeeded in subduing almost every town in that