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42
meet the oncoming Afghans. A hand-to-hand
battle ensued in which fortune once more
favoured the Persians. The Afghans leaving
about 4,000 dead on the battle-field, fled into
the city of Isfahan. But finding their position
untenable even there, they departed before day-
break with all the members of their families.
Nadir, marching from Murchakhur, entered the
city triumphantly on the 16th of November, 1729.
One of his first acts was to make a diligent search
for the Afghans. All those who were found were
ruthlessly massacred. The lofty mausoleum of
Shah Mahmud was levelled to the ground in an
instant. The Afghan's line of retreat could be
easily traced by the dead horses and camels they
had left on the roads, and by the slaughtered
old men, women and children, who, unable to
keep up the pace of the flight, had been executed
by their own relatives and friends to prevent
their falling into the hands of their ruthless
enemy.
On the 24th of December Nadir came out of
Isfahan with a view to pursue the Afghans, who
were heading for Shiraz. At Zarqan, 21 miles
north-east of Shiraz, he found Ashraff awaiting
Roughly two thirds of characters agree with a modern printed edition of the same text. Much of the disagreement is editorial, not misreading. Treat the transcription as a finding aid and read the page image before quoting. How this was measured.