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 BALUCHISTAN.

3°

contest that the famous Xadir Shah advanced from Persia to the invasion

and while at Kandahar, he despatched several detachments into Baluchistan, and established his authority in that Province. Abdulla Khan, however, was continued in the government of the but he was soon after killed in a battle with countr)’ by Nadir’s order He was succeeded by his eldest the forces of the Nawabs of Sind. son, Haji Muhammad Khdn, who abandoned himself to the most tyrannical and licentious way of life, and alienated his subjects by In these circumstances, Nasi'r Khan, the second oppressive taxation. son of Abdulla Kh^n, who had accompanied the victorious Nadir to Delhi, and acquired the favour and confidence of that monarch, returned to Khelat, and was hailed by the whole population as their Finding that expostulation had no effect upon his brother, deliverer. he one day entered his apartment and stabbed him to the heart. As soon as the tyrant was dead, Nasir Kh£n mounted the masnad, amidst the universal joy of his subjects; and immediately transmitted a report of the events which had taken place to Nadir Shah, who was then encamped near Kandahar. The Shah received the intelligence with satisfaction, and despatched a fanndn, by return of the messenger, of Hindustan





Khan

appointing Nasir place in the year

Nasir

1

beglerbey of all Baluchistan.

This event took

739.

Khan proved an

active, politic,

and warlike

prince.

He

took

great pains to re-establish the internal government of all the provinces

under

his dominion,

and improved and

the city of KheHt.

fortified

On

the death of Nddir Shih in 1747, he acknowledged the title of the King In 1758, he declared himself entirely of Kibul, Ahmad Shah Abdali.

independent; upon which

under one of

Ahmad Shah

his ministers.

despatched a force against him,

The Khan, however,

raised an

army and

On receiving intelligence of this routed the Afghan general. discomfiture, the king himself marched with strong reinforcements, and

totally

Khan was worsted. He was followed by the victor,

a pitched battle was fought, in which Nasir retired in

who

good order

to Khelat, whither he

invested the place with his whole array.

vigorous defence



and

after the royal troops

The Khan made a

had been

foiled in their

attempts to take the city by storm or surprise, a negotiation was pro-

By this posed by the king, which terminated in a treaty of peace. treaty it was stipulated that the king was to receive the cousin of Nasfr Khan in marriage ; and that the Khan was to pay no tribute, but only, when called upon, to furnish troops to assist the Kabul army, for which he was to receive an allowance in cash equal to half their pay. The Khan frequently distinguished himself in the subsequent wars of Kabul ; and, as a reward for services, the king bestowed upon him several Districts Having succeeded in quelling a in perpetual and entire sovereignty. dangerous rebellion, headed by

his

cousin

Bahram Khan,

this able