[607] The followers of what is called the “Shiah sect”, curse the memories of Abu Bekr, Omar, and Othman, whom they look upon as usurpers of Ali’s rights; and they despise all the “Soonee”, or body of traditions collected during their reigns, which are venerated by all orthodox Mahometans. They believe that Ali, the beloved son-in-law of Mohammed, is almost equal to the Prophet himself; and that if Mohammed is the Apostle, Ali and his descendants, the twelve Imaums, were the Vicars of God. These Imaums all suffered martyrdom, except Mahadi, the last, and he is said to have mysteriously disappeared, and is believed to be still alive. The twelve Imaums are— 1. Ali, the son-in-law of Mohammed. 2. Hassan } his sons. 3. Hossein } 4. Zein al Abudeen. Put to death by Caliph Walid I. 5. Mohammed al Badkir. Put to death by Caliph Hashem. 6. Jaffier al Sadiek. 7. Moôssâh Kazim, from whom the Suffavean } All put to death, family is descended. } generally by order 8. Ali Riza; buried at Meshed. } of the Caliphs. 9. Mohammed al Takec. } 10. Ali al Nukec. } 11. Hassan Askeri. } 12. Mohammed al Mahadi. Mysteriously disappeared. [608] The Lake of Urumea, into which the Adschy Tchai, the river close to Tabreez, flows. [609] From the Caspian. [610] Ghilan. [611] Bagdad, Kashan, and Yezd. [612] Caravan serai. [613] Ormuz. [614] Hesht Behesht, eight heavens. [615] Calo Johannes. See Zeno, p. 9. [616] “Queen Despina.” [617] Uzun Hassan, at the time of his marriage with Despina, was not King of Persia but only Prince of Diarbekr. Trebizond was taken by Mahomet II, Grand Turk, in 1461. [618] He was strangled by his half-brothers after Uzun Hassan’s death. [619] Tocat, Malatia, and Sivas. See Zeno. [620] Amida Diarbekr. See Zeno, p. 6. [621] Orfà (Edessa). See Zeno, p. 98. [622] Kalat en Nejm. [623] A son of Yakoob Sultan; his brother, Murad Khan, disputed the throne with him, and seized Fars and Babylonia. [624] Sheikh Hyder. See Zeno, p. 42. [625] Ardebil. [626] Martha. [627] Schamachi. [628] Derbend. [629] Demir Kapoo, or “iron gate”, it is sometimes called. [630] The island of Ak Tamar, the seat of the Armenian Catholicos. [631] Arminig. [632] Ghilan. [633] Pyrcall. [634] See Zeno, pp. 48, 49. [635] Astrabad, Sari. [636] See Zeno, pp. 50, 56. [637] Schamachi. See Zeno, p. 56. [638] See Zeno, p. 46. [639] Stepmother, according to others. [640] Perhaps Alanja, near Maragha, on a small stream falling into Lake Urumia; but Zeno says it was to the north of Tauris. [641] This is rather a contrast to his previous assertion, that he was one of the most bloodthirsty tyrants that ever existed. See p. 191. [642] Murad Khan, brother of Alumut. [643] This by no means equals the slaughter caused by Timour at Ispahan. [644] See Zeno, pp. 53, 54.