MODES OF ATTACKING PERSIA. 433 alloyed by the reflection that he was indebted for it, as he had been for so many previous military successes, to the energy and skill of his near relative, Sultan Murad Meerza. That prince, however, was allowed to remain in the government of Herat, and Isa Khan, who had so long defended the fortress, was treacherously put to death by him, after having been assured of pardon and of favour. The problem now to be solved by the British Govern- ment of India was how to expel the Persian troops from Herat. Dost Mahomed Khan of Cabul was perfectly ready to cooperate with the English authorities, and a division of British troops might have been sent through Afghanistan. The Khan of Khelat was equally dis- posed to permit the passage of British soldiers through his dominions ; and had the course been adopted of invading Persia from India, the Government possessed in General John Jacob, the renowned commander of the Sindh Horse, an officer than whom no one was better qualified for carrying out the project. Another course which lay open to the Government of India was to land troops at Bender-Abbass, by the permis- sion of the Imam of Muskat, and thence to march to Yezd. This route presents no difficulties, with the exception of one rocky pass, and is daily traversed by strings of caravans ; the pass between Tarem and Ghuneh, however, would make it necessary that artillery should be taken to pieces before being transported over it. But although there would be no difficulty for an invading force to overcome in reaching Yezd, the military position of such a force so far from its base of opera- tions would be a very precarious one, and the routes 28
