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east, and from the borders of the great desert on the north to the Persian Gulf N. on the south.
Ismail Samani was a just and firm ruler, and, though a sincere Muhammadan, a liberal patron of his native literature ; and during his reign the Persian language was revived in its former purity, after two centuries of suppression by the Arabs. After a prosperous and glorious rule of thirty years, the last eight as Viceroy of Khurasan and Mawaranahar, he sickened, and died at Zarman, whither he had been carried for change of air, on the 15th Safar 295 H.= 907 A.D. He is known in history as the Amir Mali=past Prince. His son, Ahmad, succeeded to the throne. He subdued a revolt in Sistan, and on his return, whilst on a hunting excursion on the banks of the Jyhon, received intelligence of the revolt of Tabarista n. The news so disturbed his mind that it disarmed his usual precaution, and the tiger, habitually chained at the entrance to his chamber as a guard at night, was on this occasion forgotten ; and his slaves, seizing the opportunity, entered and beheaded him, at the instigation of one of his own family, on Thursday, 11th Jamadi Akh it 301 H. _ 913-4 A.D. He reigned six years and four months, and is called Amir Shahid. martyr Prince.
Abtil Hasan Nasr, his son, succeeded at the age of ten years. His reign was disturbed by revolts in the western provinces, and noted for a conflagration at the capital, which lasted three days, Rajab 325 H.=936 A.D., and was seen at Samarcand. The greater part of the city was destroyed, together with the palace, full of treasures and rarities of art, which all perished in the flames. Bukhara has never since, it is said, recovered its former magnificence. Abell Hasan Nasr died after a reign of thirty-one years in Shabcin 331 H. = 942 A.D. He is called Amir Said =prosperous Prince. His son, Nuh, succeeded. His reign was disturbed by anarchy, and a serious revolt at Marv. Order was not restored till 341 H. = 952 A.D., and he died, having reigned twelve years, a couple of years later in Rabi Akkir 343 H. He is called Amir Hamid=laudable Prince.
He was succeeded by his son, 'Abdul Malik, aged ten years, who reigned seven, and was killed by a fall from horseback at the game Chaugdn=" hockey" in Shoal 350 H.=961 A.D. He is called Amir Rashid =intelligent Prince.
His brother, Mansur, succeeded, but was at first opposed by Ulaptakin, the Governor of Nishabor, who seized Balkh. He relinquished this " material guarantee," however, and consented to the succession, on the tribute of 50,000 diram being paid, as before, to Nishabor. Mansur, on the other hand, subsequently exacted from the Dailami or Dilami Chief of Fars and Irac a similar annual tribute. He died after a disturbed reign of fifteen years and five months on Sunday, the 16th Muharram 365 H.=976 A.D., and is called Amir Shaded =impetuous Prince.
His son, Ntih, called Amir Sàid Abûl Kasim, succeeded. His reign was characterised by general anarchy and confusion. The border province revolted, and the Samani power quickly declined. Abti All Samchor, the Governor of Khurasan, revolted, and joining with Faik, the deposed Governor of Herat and Balkh, invited Bughra Khan, Chief of the Uightir Tartar of Kashghar, to attack Bukhara. This he did, and, driving Abul Kasim out, took possession of his capital. He did not long enjoy his success, however, for he almost immediately sickened with a fever, and, hastening to regain bis native air, died a few stages out from the city. His army retraced its steps to Farghana and Kashghar, and Abtil Kasim on its departure returned to his capital, and, recovering his power, drove his refractory nobles out of the country into Khurasan. Here they raised a strong party, and, securing the aid of the Dilami Prince, renewed their hostility. Abtil Kasim, on this, unable alone to cope with their combined forces, called to his aid Subuktakin, the newly established independent Prince of Ghazni, and with him attacked and routed the rebels at Herat. After this Abtil Kasim was forced once more to seek the aid of Subuktakin against a threatened attack by the rising Iylik Khan, son of Bughra Khan, at the instigation of the restless Faik. On this occasion the threatened
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