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38 mised, but set free all the prisoners he had made during the war. By this wise moderation and a brilliant stroke of diplomacy, he won the hearts of his enemy and became so popular with them that the Court of Constantinople was compelled to conclude a treaty of peace with the Afghans, by which it was stipulated that Ashraff would acknowledge the Porte as the spiritual head of the Muslims all over, in return for which he was to be recognized as Shah of Persia. Ashraff, thus by his valour and diplomacy, won a great victory and became popular throughout the Muslim world. He now found leisure to turn his immediate attention to other pressing affairs. He made an unsuccessful attempt to obtain possession of Kandahar, which was held by Mir Hussein, Mahmud's brother. This led to a division among the Ghilzai Afghans. Those, who were left in Persia were deprived of, in future, any reinforcement by the home tribes. Malik Mahmud, the governor of Seistan also hailing the opportunity, proclaimed himself king. Ashraff, in spite of his great victory over the Turks, found his kingdom rapidly falling to pieces. No help could come from Kandahar. He must rely on