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 226 ON THE ROAD TO NISHAPUR

when he devastated Iran. The worst ruin to the city, however, appears to have been wrought by the invasion of the Afghans, in 1721, who held the town till it was retaken somewhat later by the famous Nadir Shah.^ This monarch seems to have undertaken a partial restoration of the place; but its rehabili- tation, at the opening of the nineteenth century, was due to Ali Yah Khan of Mazinan.^

This brief sketch would be incomplete, however, without at least touching upon certain literary associations connected with the city, and certain religious aspects of its history. Sabzavar was the birthplace of a number of minor men of letters; but real renown belongs to Husain Va*iz, the author of the Anvdr-i Suhaill, a Persian version of the great book of fables popularly attributed to Aesop, but probably of Indian origin, and trans- lated into various languages till it came to us as the delight of our childhood days. This clever versionist, who was a de- vout Shiite in religion, died here in 1504 or 1505. ^ With re- gard to their Moslem faith, the people of Sabzavar have been even more enthusiastic Shiites, or followers of Ali, than most of the Persians. For this reason it seems that the invaders, who were fanatical Sunnis, or traditionalists, have been all the more rabid against them;* but it is interesting to note that Babism has taken a strong hold in this center in modern times, which shows the characteristic Persian tendency towards revolt against strictly orthodox Muhammadanism.^

The sun had set when we returned to the post-house, and the

1 Fraser, p. 381 ; Ferrier, p. 101. * Compare preceding note, and see

2 Fraser, p. 381 ; Yate, p. 397. above, p. 225, n. 2.

8 Cf. Barbier de Meynard, Diet. ^ This is noted by Bassett, pp. 213-

geog. p. 300, where it is stated that 214. Some memoranda regarding the

Husain lost his life for his faith. For Bab are given in my Persia, pp. 48-

details about Husain Va'iz-i Kashi- 60 ; and reference may now be made

fi's version, see Browne, Literary His- also to Browne's elaborate article on

tory of Persia, 2. 350-353 ; Horn, the sect in Hastings' Encyclopaedia of

Gcsch. d. pers. Litt. pp. 313-322, Leip- Religion and Ethics, 2. 299-308, Edin-

zig, 1901 ; Eth6, Grundr. iran. Philol. burgh, 1909. 2. 327-329.

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