378 A HISTORY OF PERSIA. mitted in that town went far towards checking any incli- nation which the people of Meshed may have entertained to imitate the example of those of Sehzewar. It was at this time that the Turkish government took advantage of the confusion that reigned throughout Persia to seize the frontier district of Kotoor, in direct contravention of the engagements which had been con- cluded between Persia and the Sublime Porte at Erze- roum. In spite of all remonstrances, Turkey has per- sisted in retaining Kotoor. While the fate of Khorassan was still doubtful, neither the authority of the Shah nor the position of his Minister could be said to be secure. It was long before the gover- nor of Ispahan could put down the insurrection that had been raised in that city ; and at the same time the chief of Bunpoor, in Beloochistan, took advantage of the oppor- tunity of revolting. A military force was assembled at Eoodbar for the purpose of being sent against him ; but it was determined to try, in the first instance, the effect of negotiation with the insurgent chief. This mode of settling the difference having failed, the troops took pos- session of Bunpoor. The town of Bunpoor is distant from Eoodbar about two hundred and forty miles, nearly two-thirds of the road between them being an unin- habited tract of desert. It was at this time proposed to the Shah's government, by the Prince of Kerman, to invade the province of Seistan, on the plea of putting a stop to the raids of the Belooches within the territory of Yezd and Kerman. Some of the chiefs of Seistan had lately sent to ask the assistance of the prince in support of their claims to supremacy in their native province. The Belooches in Seistan were gradually acquiring the ascen-
