12. Volume 6 — part 12

I ordered that all the prisoners in every fort and prison through- out the kingdom should be released.

A very foolish order, and one calculated to bring his father’s police system into contempt.

1 Dow’s History of Hindostan^ vol. iii. p. 8.

2 Gladwin’s Ain-i Akbari, vol. i. pp. 221-225.

3 Sir T. Eoe, in Kerr’s Coll, of Voyages and Travels^ vol. ix. p. 267.

Jahangir’s sense of sympathy for prisoners was not always so acute.

‘‘ The King’s manner of hunting is thus : — About the beginning of November he goes from Agra, accompanied by many thousands, and hunts all the country for thirty or forty coss round about, and so continues till the end of March, when the great heats drive him home again. He causes a tract of wood or desert to be encompassed about by chosen men, who contract themselves to a near compass, and whatever is taken in this inclosure is called the King’s sylzar or game, whether men I or beasts, and whoever lets aught escape loses his life, unless pardoned by the King. All the beasts thus taken, if man’s meat, are sold, and the money given to the poor. If men, they become the King’s slaves, and are sent yearly to Cabul, to be bartered for horses and dogs ; these being poor, miserable and thievish people, who live in the woods and deserts, differing little from beasts.” ^

Precept and practice were never more forcibly contrasted.

^ William Finch’s Travels, 1611, in Kerr’s Voyages, vol. viii. p. 291.

This little work was written to show the author’s ingenuity in com- posing, in six different styles, the account of the capture of Kangra — an instance of {JiaTaLoreyvia^ which has not often been exceeded. The authorship is doubtful ; some attribute it to Ni’amat Khan ’Alt, others to Jalala Tihatiba. The style, which is very difficult, cer- tainly resembles that of the former, and the vicious redundance of ornament which serves to make him one of the most popular of the modern authors of India, as well as the frequent use of medical phrases, appear at first to convey internal evidence of the fact. It was certainly written after the time of Jahangir, because he is styled Jinnat-7mhdni, his honorific title after death ; and so far, it might have been written by either author to whom it is ascribed : but I entertain no doubt that it was written by Muhammad Jalala Tibatiba; not only because the general voice concurs most in this opinion, but because in a common- place book in my possession, which must be at least a hundred years old, amongst other com- positions of Jalala, there are the first and last Fat'hs expressly ascribed to him.

He was fully capable of this versatility of style, and was, more- over, a munslii of Shah Jahan, which would account for his ascribing a conquest to him, individually, in which he had so little real concern. Ni’amat Khan ’All, who lived later, would not have had the same reason for fiattering a bygone monarch at so much ex- pense of truth.

Jalala Tibatiba is the author of a history of Shah Jahan, which will be noticed hereafter. He is also the author of the Persian translation of the Taukydti-Kisraviya, or the Institutes of Khusru

^ Id est supervacua artis imitatio.— Quintilian, ii. 20. Where he instances a man who stuck vetches on a needle, and was rewarded by Alexander with a bushel of them — “ praemium illo opere dignissimum.”

Anuslnrwan, translated originally from the Pehlavi into Arabic, and by Jalala from the Arabic into Persian.^ This is a very cele- brated work in India, and was printed at Calcutta in 1824:, and sub- sequently lithographed at Lucknow.

First Capture ... Second Capture Third Capture ... Fourth Capture Fifth Capture ... Sixth Capture ...

pp. 1- 64 pp. 64-110 pp. 111-152 pp. 153-176 pp. 177-201

Size. — Duodecimo, with 11 lines to a page.

It appears therefore that the first is the longest, and the trans- lation of it is given below. Absurd as it may read, it gives but a faint idea of the extravagances of the original. Then follow the beginnings of the other five, in order to show the nature of the different narratives which have been attempted.

[The translation was apparently made by a munsJii, but has been revised by Sir H. M. Elliot.]

Before the agents of the illustrious court of the Supreme Euler could visit the provinces of the kingdom of creation, and before the recorders of fate could paint anything in the gallery of be- ginnings ; when time and place were not defined, when all things which we now see around us were screened in his de- signs, like life in bodies, or meaning in words ; and when there was a state of perfect solitude, and all things, from the highest heavens to the lowest regions of water and earth, had their forms only in his imagination, the universal physician who has existed from all eternity, that is, the Almighty God, according to His wise dispensation, and with a view to preserve regularity and system, predestined that great and arduous works should be performed by the hands of man, and for this purpose endowed him with exalted

^ Bibliotheque de M. le Baron Silvestre de Sacy, tom. iii. p. 290.

intellect. Certain men He made to surmount certain difficulties, and for each work appointed a time for its accomplishment. When that time comes, all obstacles and difficulties in the way of success are removed, and the key of its easy elucidation is soon found. When the individual whom fortune has made great, is born in this world, all circumstances become subservient to his purposes. That which gives pain to others, affords him delight, and dust produces the effect of collyrium in his eyes. All difficulties vanish of them- selves ; the dark rust turns for him into a glass, through which he is able to see the world. Through his good fortune the star of prosperity shines over a nation, and the hand of his generosity relieves people from their wants. From his perfection in the know- ledge of the doctrine of jurisprudence, with which the Almighty enlightens his mind, he can effect the satisfactory management of his government, can awake people from the slumbers of idleness, and settle all disturbances by his judicious plans. He can rule over the seven climates of the earth, as the soul governs the body ; and by his superior wisdom is able even to alter the effect of the revolu- tions of the heavens upon the affairs of mankind. His pleasure and displeasure, as shown in the government of people, has a much better effect towards perfecting their morals, than the heat of the sun has upon ripening fruit. His justice, severity, liberality, and frugality are more advantageous to the people than the sweet and bitter medicines or the plaister of a physician, or the bleeding instruments of a surgeon to his patients. His anger is as beneficial to the people as the animal heat to the body ; and his dissatisfaction, like the bitter precepts of philosophers, gives men the fruits of pre- caution. The description of his virtues is worthy of forming a preamble to the book of holiness and justice, and the account of his generosity fit to introduce the history of sovereigns. Kings should make his morals their example, and his mode of administration their rule. This may be illustrated by the following brief account.

When under the influence of the fortunate star of Shah Jahan, a victory was achieved over the Kana, and the tribes of Jam and Bhara ^ were subdued in Gujarat by the royal army, the Emperor

1 By the J&m is meant the chief Zaminddr of Shrath in GujaiAt; and hy Bhkr&., the Zamindur of Each.

Jahangir, who knew every person’s worth by only looking at his face, was exceedingly happy to find the Prince possessed of eveiy good and excellent quality, and, from the achievements he had performed, the Emperor had every reason to believe that he would become the most powerful prince of his age. From his ex- cellent manners and good disposition, he found him quite worthy of being his successor ; and it was a matter of great satisfaction to him that he had such an accomplished prince for his son. Hence it was that His Majesty, who was equally kind to all, nobles and plebeians, was often heard to speak in public of the high qualities of the Prince. His Majesty always took advice and assistance on all points which seemed difficult and doubtful, a fact which showed to all that there are things in the world which every man is not able to do, and that one key cannot fit every lock. To overcome particular difficulties, men are specially raised up ; for every great work is destined to be performed by the exertions of one particular chief.

Since the shaking of the chain of prosperity produces all that is necessary for the accomplishment of any purpose, the Almighty God determined to reveal a wonder from the hidden chambers of secrecy, and effect a miracle by his beneficence in behalf of the Prince, who justly sustains the weight of the successorship of God. This was exemplified in the revolt of Suraj Mai, son of Kaja Basu, who, overcome by excessive pride, and through vain ideas, having lost all his senses, and becoming delirious through the fire of his madness, which burnt up the storehouse of his wits, had altogether eradicated the tree of allegiance by the fingers of insubordination, and having, by his ridiculous fantasies and vile thoughts, made a breach in the fabric of obedience (as Magog in the wall of Alexander), and by the scratching of his bad fortune deformed with his own hand the face of his prosperity, the malignity of his dark fate, owing to the drunkenness of his neglect, made him break the bowl of his good faith. Through his folly he relied upon the precarious shelter of his forts, and exulted in having the hills for his defence, not know- ing that the warriors of the royal army were so powerful that, even if he were to flee from water and fire, and to conceal himself under stones, they would easily destroy him with their blazing spears and

blades of good water, as a short-lived spark vanishes to nothing, or a little drop becomes absorbed by the earth. In short, when the Emperor, who by his generosity and kindness had confirmed him in the paternal dominions after the death of his father, had been in- formed of Suraj Mai’s revolt, and that from the excessive bile of his pride he had soured the taste of the honey of his obedience, and through his shortsightedness having thrust his foot beyond his blanket, deserting the highway of loyalty, and entering on the plain of rebellion, had laid his rapacious hands upon some of the par- ganas of the Panjab ; he (the Emperor), according to the wishes of his heart, entrusted the duty also of punishing the rebel to the hands of the Prince, and that ornament of the world, and director of its conquests and administration, in order to display the excellence of his aiTangements, gave the command to Eaja Bikramajit, an old, brave, and experienced chief, who was very faithful to the throne, for whom the Prince had used ever37 endeavour to obtain advance- ment, the gold of whose friendship, when tried by the touchstone, had turned out pure and red, and who had successfully rendered many services to the Emperor on former occasions, and also in the conquest of the tribes of Jam and Bhar4 just alluded to above, against whom matters had been previously ill- conducted, and for whose present discomfiture the Government was indebted entirely to his exertions and valour. Agreeably to the orders of the Prince, he with a stout heart, experienced judgment, loyal intentions, pure friendship, and great precaution, marched from Gujarat against the rebel, at the head of a considerable army, in order to secure success, on the 12th of Shahriyar, the 13th year of His Majesty’s reign, corresponding with the 1st of Sha’ban, a.h. 1027.

Suraj Mal,^ on receiving the intelligence of his motion towards him, was so overwhelmed with fear that he dared not lay his rapa- cious hands upon the rich province of Panjab, which he had intended to plunder. He ran with precipitation towards Pathankot, and took shelter in the fort of Mau,^ which is surrounded by hills and

1 The local traditions and poems universally call Jagat Sing the son of Basd, and to him they ascribe the defeat of the Muhammadan armies.

2 There are two Ta’liikas of Mau, upper and lower, bald and zdri, in the pargana of Niirpur, to the S.W. of that town, and not far from Pathhnkot. In the first are still to be seeii the remains of the palace of the Raj&s of Nurphr.

forests, and is reckoned one of the loftiest and strongest forts in the country. From ancient times it had been the capital of the chiefs of that territory, and several times siege was laid to it, but no enemy was ever able to take it. Raja Bikramajit, at the head of a i

royal army, soon reached the place, and laid siege to the fort. The ]

refugees offered opposition, but they were soon defeated. About 700 persons on their side, male and female, were killed, many men were taken prisoners, and Suraj Mai himself, with a few others, fled to the fort of Nurpur, which had been raised by Raja Basu. This town, before the fort was built, was called Dhamri, and subsequent to its conquest it was called Nurpur, after the illustrious name of the Emperor Nuru-d din Jahangir. Bikramajit, having taken pos- session of the fort of Mau, and having collected his munitions of war, was bent on the destruction of Suraj Mai, and the conquest of Kangra. With this intention he pursued Suraj Mai without (

delay ; but the fugitive chief, not finding himself able to stand !

before the mighty torrents of the royal army, and being quite con- founded, dared not stop there for a moment, but, before its arrival, J fled away at midnight towards the mountains ; and having entered the dominions of the Raja of Chamba, concealed himself in the fort j,

of Taragarh,^ which is very ancient, lofty, and strong, and is ^

hemmed in by thick forests and mountains. He was, however, soon besieged there by the royal army. For three days the Raja led successive attacks upon the fort, and on the fourth day stormed it ' with all his warriors, who, though they sustained a great loss in ; killed and wounded, yet bravely, and by the force of their arms, carried everything before them, took possession of the fort, and v

obliged Suraj Mai to flee. After he had lost more than one ^

thousand men on his side, and a great number had fallen into the hands of the besiegers, he fled from Taragarh to the Raja of j Chamba, and took refuge in a fort in which the Raja and his family resided, and here he considered himself fortunate in obtaining a respite of two or three days.

‘ The copies read Isr^, but inquiries in the neighbourhood satisfy me there was no such place, and that we should read Taragarh. Local tradition represents that Thragarh held out for twelve years, when the siege was raised; the royal army having surrounded it long enough to eat the fruit of the trees they had planted there.

Bikramajit, after the capture of Taragarh and the flight of the rebel chief, marched towards the fort of Nurpur, where he deter- mined upon staying for some days, and then to move from that place with his mighty army, and make at once all the neighbouring places his prey. He soon conquered the forts of Hara, Pahari, Thatha, Pakrota, Sur, and Jawali, which all lay in the vicinity of Nurpur, surrounded with jungle, and were all very strong. Having so far succeeded in his undertaking, he determined now to seize Suraj Mai, and take the fort of Kangra. While he was engaged in making preparations for this purpose, Madhu Sing, brother of Suraj Mai, taking advantage of the opportunity, raised a rebellion in the same territory; but, through fear of Eaja Bikramajit, he chose to secure himself within the fort of Kotila, between Kangra and Nurpur. It is bounded on three sides by a large river ; and on the land side, which was as dark and narrow as his own under- standing, he fortifled it with cannon blazing like the Armament of fire. The prudence of Eaja Bikramajit did not permit of his leaving behind him this new rebel unpunished. With all haste, therefore, he marched towards him, and having, reached the place, suddenly laid siege to the fort. The enemy offered a bold resistance, but at last was defeated ; and, after much bloodshed, the fort fell into the hands of the royalists. In short, Eaja Bikramajit, having wrested the whole territory from Suraj Mai and his agents, made himself master of it on the part of the Emperor. He removed all the rebel’s officers from their different posts, and established his own tlidnds. He gave several parganas to the servants of the throne as jdgirs. The unfortunate Suraj Mai, being properly punished for his insolence and rebellious conduct, and having suffered great loss, reflected now upon his conduct with regret. In a short space of time, so many strong forts had been easily taken, a large number of people had been slain, and many men had been taken prisoners. Being entirely humbled to the dust, and overwhelmed by sorrow and remorse, he was seized by a fatal disease, and soon after died in the fort of the Eaja of Chamba; who, after the rebel’s death, wisely saw his safety in acknowledging obedience to the throne. With this conviction he sued Eaja Bikramajit for peace; and, having succeeded in gaining his favour, craved him to obtain the Emperor’s forgiveness for his

past misconduct. Eaja Bikramajft called upon him to surrender all the property of Suraj Mai, and to make the most unconditional offer of surrender. The Eaja of Chamba accordingly made over the whole property of Suraj Mai, and Bikramajit despatched all the prize property, under a strong escort, to the Emperor ; which, besides other valuables, consisted of fourteen large elephants, and 200 Arab and Turkish horses. Having thus got rid of the rebels, he now proceeded to the conquest of Kangra.

Immediately on his approaching the fort, he surrounded it with his troops ; and although his religion was calculated to make him revolt from such a proceeding, yet, for the sake of his master, he used all his exertions to conquer it. He acted contrary to his creed, of which he was a most devoted adherent, rather than become guilty of disloyalty and ingratitude, and considered the service of his master equal to the service of God ; for in this fort there was a temple of Debi, who is one of the greatest goddesses of the Hindus, and to worship which idol people resorted to this place in great numbers from the remotest parts of the country. Eaja Bikramajit was one of the most faithful and obedient servants of the throne. He was attached to the Emperor’s interests to such a degree that in pro- moting them he would fear no danger, and there was nothing too difficult to be surmounted by his bold and daring spirit. Although his ancestors did not possess the title of Eaja, and hereditary honours did not, therefore, inspire any confidence in his character, yet by his own meritorious services he obtained the title of Bikramajit, and the mansab or rank of a commander of 5000 horse. Entire power was placed in his hands in the execution of the present com- mand. Indeed, the advantages of obedience and gratitude to a master are incalculably numerous and infinitely great. In short, Bikramajit, having surrounded the fort, ordered intrenchments to be made, and mines to be dug in their proper places. Each officer was appointed to a certain service, and he himself remained to superintend the whole. He led on several gallant attacks upon the fort. The warriors of the royal army fought very bravely with the enemy, and the Eajputs displayed astonishing feats of valour. The besiegers at last effected a breach in the walls, and forced a passage into the fort. A most sanguinary contest ensued. The brave soldiers of the royal

army shot a great number of their opponents with their arrows, and like lightning opened a dreadful fire on them. The warriors fought so boldly that they rivalled the celebrated Sam and Nariman in feats of chivalry ; and the musketeers threw such a shower of balls that the heavens appeared to have hid themselves under the veil of clouds. The whole atmosphere was filled with the smoke of the guns. The arrows of the archers made so many holes in the shields of their antagonists that they resembled the hives of bees ; and the breasts of the fighters, from the wounds they received, became as hollow as the scales of a balance. The nooses which the besiegers threw towards the enemy were so strong that they might have drawn down the milky way in the heavens. The musket-balls, which fell at a very great distance and with much velocity, exceeded in number the drops of rain, and the noise of the drums drowned that of thunder. The shouts of triumph and the sounds of the musical instruments reached the heavenly regions, and confounded Jupiter in the fifth heaven. At last the opponents, being entirely defeated, found their safety in flight. Although they had made a vigorous resistance, and showed much intrepidity and courage in defending themselves, yet the brave warriors advanced to the attack with such great impetuosity, and their ardour and zeal were so unremitting, that towards the close of day the gale of victory blew upon the royal standards, and a complete overthrow was given to the enemy, whom their mighty hand compelled to surrender the keys of the fort. Kaja Bikramajit triumphantly entered the fort, appointed trustworthy officers to protect the property which might be found there, and placed ^dmils at different stations where they were re- quired. After this signal victory, he made the whole army happy by ofi’ering them his thanks, praising them for their valorous deeds, and rewarding every man with goods and cash according to his rank and deserts. He also increased the mansabs of those warriors who distinguished themselves in battle. He took possession of all the treasures which had been amassed by the Eajas of that place from aucient times. From these riches he distributed rewards to the nobles and officers of the army, and what remained, after all the expenses, he sent to the Emperor, with a report on the victory which was thus achieved. His Majesty, on receiving the informa-

tion of this conquest, offered thanks to the great Creator of the Universe, and distributed a large sum in alms among the poor and the needy.

{^Having given an account of the conquest of Kdngrd, the writer, agreeably to what he before promised, now gives a description of its fort.)

The fort of Kangra is very lofty, and stands on a very high hill. Its buildings are very beautiful. It is so old that no one can tell at what period it was built. This fort is very strong ; insomuch that no king was ever able to take it ; and it is unanimously declared by all persons acquainted with the history of the ancient Kajas, that from the beginning up to this time, it has always remained in pos- session of one and the same family. The fact is also confirmed by the histories of the Muhammadan Kings who have reigned in this country. From a.h. 720, or the commencement of Sultan Ghiyasu-d din’s power, to the year 963, when the Emperor Akbar became master of the whole country of Hindustan, the fort has been besieged no less than fifty -two times by the most powerful kings and rulers, but no one has been able to take it. Firoz, who was one of the greatest kings of Delhi, once laid siege to this fort, but it baffled all his efforts ; for at last he was contented with having an interview with its Eaja, and was obliged to return unsuccessful. In the reign of the Emperor Akbar, one of his greatest nobles, Hasan Kuli Khan Turkoman, entitled Khan-i Jahan, Governor of the Province of Bengal, attacked this fort, at the head of a numerous army, after he was appointed to the government of the Panjab ; but, notwithstanding a long siege, he also failed in taking it. To be successful in such a great and difficult task was beyond all expecta- tion; but Providence has destined a time for all works, at which they must be accomplished ; and hence it was that that Emperor, notwith- standing all his efforts, could not obtain its possession. It was destined to fall into the hands of the mighty army of the Emperor Jahangir, under the infiuence of whose prosperous star all difficul- ties were overcome, and all obstacles removed.

At the time when the page of creation was blank, and nothing had yet taken form or sha})e, the Supreme Wisdom, with a view to preserve regularity and order in the world, fixed the destiny of each man, and deposited the key for unravelling each difficulty in the hands of an individual endowed with suitable talents. A time is fixed for everything, and when that time comes all obstacles are removed. When the man who is destined to perform it is born, and illumines this world by the light of his mind, he finds very easily the way to its efficient performance. This may be illustrated by the following brief account.

As the Emperor Jahangir, according to the general custom, had entrusted the management of the affairs of government to the un- erring wisdom of his son Shah Jahan, this Prince, possessed as he was of a power which could surmount all difficulties, first achieved a very glorious victory over the Eana ; and then, by the instrument- ality of his sword, subjugated the tribes of Jam and Bhara. That the secret designs of the Eternal Wisdom and the mysteries of the heavens might be discovered, and the heavenly light which had adorned the mind of this Prince, who was an honour to the Muham- madan religion, might shine upon all people, it was reported to the Emperor, in these days of his increasing prosperity, that Suraj Mai, who was generously confirmed in the zaminddri of his father Eaja Basn, had, through some vile ideas, raised disturbances in the country, and, under the influence of his declining star, revolted against the throne ; and, having exceeded his proper limits, had begun to oppress the people of the parganas of the Panjab by his plundering expeditions. His Majesty being well aware of the superi- ority of the Prince’s talents, was conscious that no difficulty was too great to be surmounted by him, and no enterprise too hazardous to be achieved.**"

The duty of punishing the new rebel was therefore entrusted to him ; that, by the sharp edge of his sword, all disturbances might be quelled. The Prince accordingly resolved to take measures for the accomplishment of this trust, and gave the command to Eaja Bikramajit, who was one of the oldest and most experienced servants of the throne.**' **'' *‘^

The Emperor, by the divine guidance, had always in view to extirpate all the rebels in his dominions, to destroy all infidels root and branch, and to raze all the Pagan temples level with the ground. Endowed with a heavenly power, he devoted all his exertions to the promulgation of the Muhammadan religion ; and through the aid of the Almighty God, and by the strength of his sword, he used all his endeavours to enlarge his dominions and promote the fame of the religion of Muhammad. Through fear of his sword, which had the quality of fire, the country of Hindustan, like the Muhammadan faith, received every moment a new splendour. Under his powerful sway the song of Islam was sung anew with a loud voice, and the rose of the principles of religion bloomed and widely spread its fragrance. Under the care of this representative of the Almighty God, Islam got every moment a new lustre; and the bride of his fortune, adorned by the ornaments of his talents, which shone over all the world, appeared every hour with a new show of splendour. Being thus favoured by the grace of God, His Majesty, in the 13th year of his reign, or a.h. 1027, led his victorious arms into the terri- tory of Gujarat. When the distance was travelled over, the bright sun of his glory reflected its rays upon the inhabitants of Ahmad- abad, and filled that pleasant and delightful city with the light of justice, generosity, tranquillity, and peace. By his going there he exalted the rank of the place to a height much above the seventh heaven. While he was in this city it was reported to him that Suraj Mai, son of Baja Basu, from his folly and perverseness, had revolted from obedience, and by his ill-luck and depravity of conduct, having advanced beyond his proper limits, had begun to oppress the people of the parganas of the Panjab. His Majesty, who had just before this learnt the victory achieved by Prince Shah Jahan over the Ban a, and also of his success in subduing the tribes of Jam and Bhara, was well convinced of the increasing prosperity of the Prince, and therefore entrusted to him the duty of rooting out the rebellion of Suraj Mai, and taking the fort of Kangra, a concise account of which shall be given at the end of this book. The Prince accordingly undertook the adventure, and engaged in prepar-

ing his army, which he placed under the command of Eaja Bikra- majit, the tree of whose fortune had blossomed under the care of the Prince, who was nourished in the bosom of the kindness of Almighty God, etc., etc.

The commencement of the 13th year of the Emperor Jahangir’s reign was the beginning of the time in which several great victories were destined to be achieved. Every day of this year was as good as the Nau-roz, and every morning as pleasant as that of the great festival of T'd, or as happy as hope. Every night appeared as bright as the sun, and as delightful as that called the Lailatu-1 Kadr or the night of power. In short, it was a time when the bud of the prosperity of this excellent reign was fully blown. It was in these happy days that the Emperor, having proceeded to Gujarat, adorned the city of Ahmadabad by his presence. While he was there, it was reported to him that Suraj Mai, son of Eaja Basu, whom he had generously confirmed in the zaminddri of his father, had, by his short-sightedness, revolted against the throne, and that, acting upon the dictates of his folly, and deviating from the path of prudence, he had the intention of stretching out his rapacious hand upon the parganas of the Panjab. His Majesty, whose whole efforts were always directed to the extinguishing of the fire of Paganism, and removing the mischief of mutiny and rebellion, immediately ordered the Prince to take measures towards the punishment of the revolter. As, through the guidance of the Supreme God, his attention was always devoted to the extirpation of rebels and infidels, he directed the Prince, who was as wise as Jupiter and as prudent as Mercury, to undertake the capture of the fort of Kangra, which from its foundation to this time was never approached by any sovereign. The Prince, who had already achieved a victory over the Eana, and also subdued the tribes of Jam and Bhara, lost no time, according to the Emperor’s orders, in preparing the army, and placed it under the command of Eaja Bikramajit, whom the Prince had kindl}'' exalted to great rank, and who on former occasions had rendered many meritorious services to the throne, and latterly conducted a successful war against the tribes of Jam and Bhara, etc., etc.

When, in the 13th year of his reign, the Emperor Jahangir led on his ever successful and victorious arms to the territory of Gujarat, and, having reached the city of Ahmadabad, exalted its rank higher than the ninth heaven by his auspicious arrival, it was reported to him that Suraj Mai, son of Eaja Basu, deviating from the way of prudence, had raised disturbances in the country, revolted against the throne, and having advanced beyond his bounds, had begun to oppress the people of the parganas of the Panjab. The Emperor, who saw from the infancy of the Prince Shah Jahan, that the light of fortune and greatness beamed forth from his countenance, and that the sun of his prosperity was rising higher and higher every day, was fully confident of the hope that no difficulty was too great to be overcome by his courage, and no enterprize too hazardous to be achieved by his valour. Just before the rebellion of Suraj Mai, a victory was gained by him over the Eana, and the insurrection of the tribes of Jam and Bhara was totally subdued. The duty of punishing this new revolter, and the destruction of the fort of Kangra, which was so strong that no king was ever able to take it, were also placed under his charge. He was accordingly obliged to turn his attention to this expedition. He gave the command of his army to Eaja Bikramajit, who, by his good luck and the effect of his fortunate star, had rendered him valuable services on all occa- sions, etc., etc.

The Emperor, having observed in the Prince those qualities which befit a great monarch, and which indicate the marks of future pros- perity, and also being convinced that his praiseworthy character would soon enable him to become a most fortunate and powerful ruler, always took such measures which might show to the people that His Majesty wished to make him his successor, and hence it was that the achievement of every great enterprize was referred to the force of his arms, and the unravelling of each difficult proposition was entrusted to his talents. When a victory had been achieved over the Eana by the ever-successful army of the Prince, the Emperor Jahangir, in the 13th year of his reign, proceeded to the

province of Gujarat, and the city of Ahmadabad, which is always as delightful as a garden in spring, was adorned by the marks of his footsteps. At this time, and immediately after the Prince had sub- dued the tribes of Jam and Bhara, the Emperor received the news of the rebellion of Suraj Mai, and his oppressions over the inhabit- ants of the parganas of the Panjab. The duty of punishing this new rebel was also entrusted to the Prince, who was at the same time ordered to take the fort of Kangra, which had long been the object of His Majesty’s desire. The Prince, agreeably to the royal mandates, prepared an army, and placed it under the command of Kaja Bikramajit, who had rendered many valuable services to the throne, etc., etc.

[Eirishta’s history is preceded by an Introduction, giving, as his translator, General Briggs, has stated, ‘‘a rapid and imperfect ac- count of Hindu history previous to the Muhammadan invasion.” Sir H. Elliot spoke very disparagingly of this part of the work, and com- pared it ‘‘ with the first ten Books of Livy, or Dr. Henry’s first volume of the History of Great Britain based on the poems of Ossian.” ^ General Briggs made only a partial translation of the Introduction, and evidently held a very low opinion of its value ; hut notwithstand- ing this, and the openly expressed condemnation of Sir H. Elliot, a desire has been often felt and expressed for a complete translation. The subject treated of in the Introduction is one of the greatest ob- scurity, and inquirers who are striving to penetrate the gloom of Hindu antiquity are eager for the smallest ray or spark of light. Eirishta deals with it in a very bold and decided manner, nothing doubting ; and a perusal of General Briggs’s abstract, or a partial examination of the Persian text, might well excite a wish for a perfect translation. The Editor has therefore made the following complete version of all the historical part of the Introduction. If it does not satisfy, it will at least extinguish expectation ; and the work will no longer be looked upon as a partially worked mine containing undis- covered or unappreciated gems of light. As a literary production, the work is certainly curious. Scattered Hindu traditions, which the author had gleaned from various sources, are unhesitatingly con- nected with the teachings of the Kuran and the legendary lore of the Shdh-ndma : like as in Christendom there have been writers who have striven to bring all history into unison with the Old Testa- ment. Musulmans and their idolatrous forefathers are persistently represented as lords paramount of Hind, the land of infidels, and as regularly receiving and enforcing payment of tribute. It may be that there are in the account some faint glimmerings of

fact, some “synchronisms,” as Sir H. Elliot says, “between Persian and Indian heroes ; ” but whether such are to be found or not, the investigator of Indian history will now no longer be debarred, by ignorance of the Persian language, from a complete investigation of this Muhammadan summary of ancient Hindu history. The translation has been made from General Briggs’s litliographed edition, but a MS. belonging to the Koyal Asiatic Society has also been used.]

[This Introduction contains an account of the tenets of the people of India, a record of their Eais, and a description of the rise of the Muhammadan power in that country. At the present time there is no book more extensive and more trustworthy among the Hindus than the MaTid-hhdrat. This book was translated from Hindi into Persian by Shaikh Abu-1 Eazl Faizi, son of Shaikh Mubtok, in the reign of the Emperor Jalalu-d din Muhammad Akbar. It contains more than a hundred thousand couplets. The writer of these lines has undertaken the work of making an abstract of the book, and here gives an epitome of it, so that inquirers may obtain a knowledge of its contents from the beginning to the end. It is no secret that in this country there has been a variety of opinion among philosophers, devotees and doctors as to the creation of the world. Of these various views, thirteen are men- tioned in the Mahd-hhdrat ; but no one of the writers has been able to give satisfaction on the subject to an inquiring mind, or to gratify his desires in the smallest degree. (Couplets.)

According to the faulty belief of the Hindus, the revolutions of time in this changeful world are marked by four ages — the first is called Sat Yug j second, Trita Yug: third, Dwapar Yug: fourth, Kali Yug. Whenever the Kali Yug shall be completed, the Sat Yug will come round again, and an end will be put to the Kali Yug. The affairs of the world have always gone on in this way^ and no sign has been given either of its beginning or its end. In one of the books of authority it is related that a person of false and frivolous character once asked the Leader of the Faithful : “ Who existed three thousand years before Adam ? ” His Highness

answered, “Adam!” and as lie repeated this three times, the man was silenced, and hung down his head. His Majesty then continued,

“ If you asked me three thousand times, ‘ Who was before Adam ? ’

I would still reply ‘Adam.’” So the age of the world cannot be ascertained, and the Hindu dogmas upon this point are sheer absurdities. From a saying of one of the old Brahmans it appears that the world will have an end, and that a day of resurrection is certain. Their most acute and authoritative doctors confirm this doctrine.

The duration of the Sat Yug was seventeen lacs and twenty-eight thousand years (1,728,000). During this age the works of the dwellers in the world were good and righteous. The lowly and the noble, the poor and the rich, never turned aside from the way of truth and rectitude, and from doing the will of God. The natural life of man in this age is said to have been one hundred thousand years. Gracious God, what a statement is this, and what a lifetime! {Verses,) The length of the Tritd Yug is twelve lacs and ninety-six thousand years (1,296,000). In this age three- fourths of mankind lived in obedience to the law of God, and the natural life of man was ten thousand years. In the third age, Dwapar Yug, there are eight lacs and sixty-four thousand years (864,000). In this age the dwellers in the world were of honest conversation and of upright conduct ; and the age of man was one thousand years. But the age of the patriarchs Adam, Noah, and others, was a thousand years, or nearly a thousand years. The people of India aver and maintain that as these patriarchs lived towards the end of the Dwapar Yug, their lives were of this short duration. The fourth or Kali Yug extends to four lacs and thirty - two thousand years (432,000). In this age three-fourths of mankind live an unrighteous and discreditable life ; and the natural age of man is one hundred years. The duration of each age is ordered in \ this way : the length of the Kali Yug being doubled, gives the duration of the Dwapar Yug; the years of the Dwapar being ^

augmented by the number of the Kali Yug, shows the length of the J

Trita Yug; and the years of the Trita Yug being increased in the same way, the duration of the Sat Yug is found. At the present time, in the year one thousand and fifteen (1015) of the Hijra, the

people of India in their reckoning make the date to he 4684 of the Kali Yug. {Verses.)

According to the belief of the people of India, the Almighty first created five elements, four of them the familiar (or terrestrial) elements, the fifth being dMs or ether. After that he made a person devoid of form, but a concentration of wisdom, who was called Brahma. According to various accounts, God brought him forth from the void of non-entity into palpable existence, and made him the first means of creation, and the cause of the foundation of the world. The meaning of the word okas in the language of the com- mon people of Hind is heaven {dsmdn) ; but the select few deny this, and say that the sages of Hind are not convinced of the existence of a heaven, and that which surrounds the mortal world is air. The planets {kawdkih) are the celestial forms of departed great men, who, by keeping under their natural desires, and by devout worship, having obtained bright forms and spiritual embodiments, have been made like unto God in their nature and qualities, and move in the most elevated heights, where, in mortal phrase, they are the birds of the world above. Some who have attained to a high degree of perfection have become great stars, and they never return to the world below. Those who are of a lower standard of perfec- tion, having enjoyed, according to their merit, a life in the highest sky, return again to the lower world. So the word dkds, as used in the Hindu books, has a variety of meanings ; and it seems in- expedient to enter into a long explanation of it here. (Verses.)

Brahma, having by the will of the Creator brought man out of the invisible condition into manifest existence, created four castes — Brahman, Khatri, Bais, and Sudra. He appointed the first caste to maintain a holy warfare, to practise austerities, to uphold the laws, and to enforce restrictions. To them he confided the direction of the mortal world. The second class he seated upon the throne of rule and government, and giving to it the sovereignty of the world, he provided for the due government of men. The third caste was appointed to carry on agriculture, trades, and crafts. The fourth caste was created to serve their superiors. By divine direction and holy inspiration, Brahma brought forth a book about the future and the present life. This book was called Bed. Under the guidance

of the Supreme, his active and discriminating intelligence laid down principles for the guidance of all sorts and conditions of men ; and having gathered his rules and precepts together in a book, he called it the Sacred Book. Mankind was thus supplied with a controlling power, so that, having a guide before and a guard behind, they might pursue a straight course without deviation. The Bed contains a hundred thousand sloks. The word sloh signifies a verse of four char an (feet), and a char an cannot be of less than one nor of more than twenty-six achars. The word achar signifies a letter, or a compound letter. The sages of Hind agree that the lifetime of this Wonder of Creation, the author of the book in question, reached one hundred years ; but these years were extraordinary ones, for each consisted of three hundred and sixty days, and each day con- tained four thousand years of the age above referred to, and each night, like the day, contained one thousand Yugs. The learned Brahmans of Hind affirm that up to the time when I write this book, several Brahmas have come into the visible world, and have departed into the unseen. I have heard from my Brahman friends, that the present Brahma is the one thousand and first; that fifty years and half a day of his life are past, and he has entered into the latter half of his existence. (Verses.)

Story-tellers and fabulists relate that, in the latter half of the Dwapar Yug, there was a Khatri Kaja at Hastinapur, in Hindustan, who sat upon the throne of justice, and protected the rights of his people. His name was Baja Bharat. He was followed by seven descendants in direct succession, who carried on the government, and departed to the other world. The eighth successor of his race was Kaja Kur. Kur-khet (or) Thanesar, which is a large city, still bears his name. His descendants were called Kuruvas. After six generations a son was born, who became famous under the name of Chaturburj. He was a great king, and had two sons, one called Dhritarashtra, the other Band. Dhritarashtra was the elder, but he was blind ; and so the government and sovereignty devolved upon his younger brother Band. His power so increased that his sons were called Bandavas, after his name. His sons were five, Judishtar, Bhim-sen, and Arjuu, whose mother was named Kunti ; and Nakul and Sahadeo, whose mother was called Madri.

Dhritarashtra had one hundred sons by Gandhari, who was daughter of the Eaja of Kandahar.^ The eldest son was Duryodhan. He had another son by a daughter of a corn-merchant, who was named Yuyuchha. These sons were known by the name of Kuruva.

When Pand died, Dhritarashtra took the kingdom by right of relationship, and his sons shared the honours of royalty with him. Duryodhan, his eldest son, being impressed with the duty and ex- pediency of defending the State against enemies, became suspicious of the Pandavas, and resolved to overthrow them. Dhritarashtra also, being informed of the hostility of the Pandavas, ordered them to build a residence farther away from the city, and to go and live there ; so that a stop might be put to the ill-feeling. Duryodhan directed the architects and workmen to build the roof and walls of that house with lac and pitch, so that a spark might set fire to it, and that no vestige of the Pandavas might be left. The Pandavas got information of this ; so, to secure themselves, they one night set their house on fire, and went off along with their mother to the desert. A woman named Bhil, with her five sons, who had been commissioned by Duryodhan to set the house on fire, was there watching for an opportunity; and on that night she and all her sons were burnt. The spies of Duryodhan, thinking that this woman and her sons were the Pandavas with their mother, and that the Pandavas were all burnt, conveyed the glad intelligence to the Kuruvas, who were greatly rejoiced.

After this catastrophe, the Pandavas, as the translation of the Maha-bharat testifies, changed their names and appearances, left their desolated home, and went to the town of Kampila. There by artifice they married Draupadi, the daughter of the Raja of Kampila, and all five brothers had her as their common wife. It was settled that each was to have her for seventy days ; and upon this under- standing, they lived in peace and unity. Some Hindus maintain that this was unlawful, and explain the fact away : God knows the truth ! But the nobility of their character was evident, and the fame of them spread abroad until it reached Duryodhan, who, having made inquiries, ascertained the facts, and that the report of the burn-

1 This name is written with Jj as the modern Kandahar is written, hut Gandhhri got her name from the old Gandhara on the Indus.

ing of the Pandavas was untrue. With friendly professions, but selfish designs, he brought them to Hastinapur. After courteously entertaining them, he divided the hereditary dominions as betv/een brothers. So Indarpat, which is near Old Dehli, with half the territories, fell to the lot of the Pandavas ; and Hastinapur, with the other half of the territories, remained in the possession of the Kuruvas.

In course of time many of the chief nobles, observing the intelli- gence and excellent qualities of the Pandavas, entered into their service : outwardly they were loyal to the Kuruvas, but in their hearts they were hostile to them. At this time it came into the mind of Judishtar that he would perform the sacrifice called Bdjasuya, that being the name given to a large fire which is kindled, into which all kinds of odoriferous things, fruits, grain, etc., are thrown, to be consumed in fire, the mother of the elements ; that performing this sacrifice with due ceremony and all the proper observances, he would thus seek for a nearer approach to the deity. One of the requirements of the Bdjasuya sacrifice is, that the princes of the whole world should assemble and pay homage at the time of its performance. Judishtar accordingly sent out his four brothers in four different directions to effect the conquest of the remainder of the world. Under the favour of the Almighty, this object was in a short time accomplished. The enterprising brothers, under Divine guidance, marched through the world, and brought the reigning monarchs of every country, from Khatai, Bum, Abyssinia, Arabia, Persia, Turkistan, Mawarau-u nahr, and all the other regions of the world, with vast treasures, to Indarpat ; and having performed the Bdjasuya sacrifice, accomplished the object of their wishes.

At the sight of all this greatness and glory and power, Duryodhan was unable to contain himself. The fire of envy which was smoulder- ing in his bosom burst forth, and he took counsel with the crafty men of the time. Gambling was then very prevalent. It was resolved to play at ka’batain (two dice), which, like back-gammon (nard), is a kind of gambling game. It was agreed that Duryodhan should play with Judishtar and his brothers. Accordingly the Pandavas were invited with great ceremony from their capital Indar- pat to Hastinapur. They were entertained sumptuously ; and when

they became engrossed in play, the Jca'hatain above mentioned were brought forward. The Pandavas, in the honesty of their hearts, never thought that they were playing against cheats ; and having no knowledge of the game of Iza’hatain, they lost wealth, kingdom, and everything. Duryodhan was desirous of ruining them, and kept his mind intent upon the game. The final stake was made. If the Pandavas won, they were to get back all that they had lost ; but if they failed, they v/ere to leave their home for twelve years, and, putting on mendicants’ attire, were to go out into the wilds, and dwell with the birds and beasts. After the completion of that time, they were to go to some city, and pass one year in seeking for a livelihood, but so that no one should know them. If this condition was not fulfilled, they were to go out once more into the wilds for the same period of time, and undergo all the same hardships. They played again, the dice were against them, and they lost. So, in fulfilment of the wager, the five brothers expatriated themselves, and dwelt for twelve years in the wilderness. In the thirteenth year they proceeded to the country of Wafn,^ which is one of the districts of the Dakhin. There they passed a year in such a way that, although Duryodhan made active search and inquiry, they were not discovered.

At the termination of the prescribed period, they sent Kishan, son of Basdeo, as an ambassador to demand the restoration of their country. Duryodhan complained about the condition not having been fulfilled ; and as he had no honesty of character, he failed to carry out the agreement. The affairs of the Pandavas became known to the nobles of the country, and war was resolved upon. The Pandavas assembled their forces, and the rival armies met in the field of Kur-khet, which is situated near Thanesar, in the early years of the Kali Yug. The opposing armies were drawn out in array according to the rules of warfare, and a battle began, which lasted for eighteen days, when the victors could not be distinguished from the vanquished. But the career of the wicked ends in shame, so at length Duryodhan and his allies were overpowered, and fell upon the field of battle. According to the belief of the Hindus,

1 A town on the hanks of the Krishna, near the fort of Pandu-garh, twenty miles north of Sattara. — Brigys.

there were in this battle eleven Tciishuns on the side of the Kuril vas, and seven TcusJiuns on the part of the Pandavas. KusMn'^ is a word used by the Hindus for twenty-one thousand six hundred and seventy (21,670) elephant-riders, an equal number of chariot riders, sixty-five thousand six hundred (65,600) horsemen, and one lac nine thousand six hundred and fifty (109,650) infantry. It is said that not more than twelve men of both sides were left alive. Four persons survived of the army of Duryodhan : first, Kripa Acharj Brahman, the preceptor of both parties, who was both a man of the sword and a man of the pen ; second, Ashwatthaman, son of the sage Dron, who also had been a preceptor of both parties; third, Kiratu Varman, of the race of the Yadavas ; fourth, Sanji, who was distinguished at the Court of Dhritarashtra for his wisdom. Of the Pandavas, eight men survived : Judhishtar and the rest of the five brothers ; the sixth was Sanak, of the tribe of the Yadavas, who was renowned for his bravery; seventh, Jujutash,^ the half-brother of Duryodhan ; eighth, Kishan, the blazon of whose fame is beyond description, but some little will be written about him.

Kishan was born at Mathura. There are various opinions about him current among the Hindus. Some stigmatize him as the greatest rogue in the world, and the most artful cheat of all the sons of Adam. Some believe that he was a proph-et, others raise him to divinit3\ It is well known that the astrologers, having obtained fore-knowledge of his graceless character from his horoscope, gave information to Eaja Kans, the chief of the Yadavas ; and he issued an order for putting Kishan to death. Kishan passed eleven years in the house of Nand, who was by occupation a milk-seller and cow- herd. At length, by tricks and stratagems and magic, Kishan killed Raja Kans, and gave the name of king to Ugrasen, father of Kans. He himself was openly carrying on the government. By degrees,

^ Kushun, as used in Persian, is, as Firishta says, a word of Hindu origin, being an abbreviation of the Sanskrit Ahshauhini. The copies vary as to the numbers. The published text has been followed here ; but it is not quite accurate, as, according to Sanskrit authorities, the ahshauhini consisted of 21,870 elephants, 21,870 chariots, 65.610 horse, and 109,350 foot, making a grand total of 218,700. As Briggs observes, these numbers are quite incredible. He proposes to reduce them by “ the sacred and mystical figure ” 9, which divides them without a fraction. But the reason for this process seems insufficient, and his method of applying it is unintelligible.

and with the aid of deception and impostures, he set up a claim to divinity, and large numbers of people put faith in his absurd pre- tension. For thirty- two years after his departure from the house of Nand, he passed his life among the libertines of Mathura, and his wonderful pranks and actions are notorious. Kaja Jarasandh, of the country of Bihar and Patna, marched against Mathura with a large force to overthrow him. Another Kaja also, called Kal Yavan, of the race of the Mlechhas, that is to say, a race that did not follow the Hindu religion, came up from the west to attack him. It is said that this Kaja came from Arabia (’Arabistan). Krishna was not able to withstand the attack of these two Eajas, so he fled to Dwaraka, which is on the sea-shore, one hundred Tcos from Ahmad- abad in Gujarat. There he fortified himself, and continued to dwell there for seventy-eight years. He strove for his deliverance, but without effect, until he had attained his one hundred and twenty- fifth year, when, through the malice of Gandharf, the mother of Duryodhan, he was treacherously killed. It is the belief of some that he withdrew into retirement, and that he is still alive.

The cause of Gandhan’s hatred was very curious, so I will record it. The story runs, that when the time drew near for Gandhari to give birth to a child, she reflected that, as her husband Dhritarashtra was blind, and would never see his child, she also, to sympathize with her husband, would keep her eyes from the child in this world. So on the day that Durjmdhan was born, she bound up her eyes, and kept them so bound for many years, until her son Duryodhan grew up, and went to war with the Pandavas. When the forces were assembled, and the opposing armies drew near for battle, on the day before the fight, she said to her son, Oh light of my eyes ! the eyes of parents are to the person of their son a sure protection and defence against all troubles and calamities. To-morrow the battle will begin, and as your tender body is not defended with this armour, I am fearful lest some evil should befall thee. Therefore 'Come naked before me, so that I may uncover my eyes, and look upon your figure.” Duryodhan asked how he should attend upon her, and she replied, “My son, there is no one in the world like unto the Pandavas in intelligence, wisdom, excellence, truth, and integrity ; — hasten to them, and make inquiry.” Duryodhan went

alone to the Pandavas, and told them the reason of his coming. They showed him the greatest hospitality, and, although they knew that there was the most violent animosity between them, they never let the thread of rectitude slip from their hands, but spoke out with sincerity, and said, “The child comes naked from his mother’s womb, and the eyes of his parents fall upon him first in that state. As this is the first time your mother will have seen you, to-day is as the first day of your existence ; therefore it is right that you should strip yourself naked, and so go into the presence of your mother, so that her eyes may behold the whole of your person, and preserve it from dangers.” Duryodhan took leave, and started to return. On the way he was met by Kishan, who asked him what was the reason of his coming alone into the army of his enemies. Duryodhan informed him. Kishan said to himself, “ What a pity ! if he acts upon the advice of the Pandavas, his body will become as brass ; no weapon will take effect upon it, and he will prevail over us.” So he laughed loudly, and deceitfully said, “0 simple man, they who seek the advice of their enemies, and follow the course which they prescribe, will assuredly fall into the pit of de- struction. They have been making sport of you. When you were born, your members were small and mean ; but you are grown large and vigorous,^ how can you show yourself to your mother without shame ! When Duryodhan heard this, unsuspicious of deception, he seized the garment of Kishan, and said, “ What the Pandavas told me was true; but I will throw belts with long ends over my shoulder, so that the privy parts of my person may be covered.” Durj^odhan did so, and went before his mother, and said, “ Behold, here I am : uncover your eyes.” His mother, believing him to have been instructed by the Pandavas, and being assured that they had not spoken improperly, uncovered her eyes. When she perceived the sword-belt, she uttered a cry, and fell down in a swoon. Upon recovering her senses, she wept bitterly, and said, “ 0 my son ! did the Pandavas tell you to adopt this trick of the sword-belt ? ” And he told her that Kishan had advised it. Gandhari raised her hands in prayer, and in deep affliction cursed Kishan. Then, wringing her hands in sorrow, she said, “ 0 my son ! in the very place which

1 The language of the text is much more explicit.

thou hast hidden from my eyes shalt thou receive a wound, which shall prove thy death.” Kishan, as above stated, died after great suffering.

Jadishtar, upon the death of Duryodhan, and the extermination of the Kuruvas, was established in the sovereignty of Hind and other places, and ruled as monarch. Thirty-six years after this event, he, under divine guidance, became convinced of the emptiness and instability of this world; so, before entering into the future state, he gave up the vanities of the world, and along with his four brothers retired into seclusion, and at length departed this life.

The Kuruvas and the Pandavas reigned together for seventy-six years. Duryodhan reigned alone for thirteen years, and after the termination of the war, Judishtar reigned over the whole world for thirty-six years, making altogether one hundred and twenty-five years as the duration of their supremacy. Gracious God, what a marvellous and out-of-the-way story is this ! In no history through- out the world, excepting in Hindustan, is such a circumstance to be found.

Old historians have recorded that in later days, after two breaks, the son of a son of Arjun was born, and he, having ascended the throne, carried on the government with justice and clemency; and making the events of the past the monitors of the future, he acted in obedience to the will of God. One day it came into his mind to inquire what was the cause of the dissensions of his predecessors, and what were the facts of the war between them. He made inquiries of a learned man of the age named Bhisham Bain (Vaisampayana), and Bhisham told him that his preceptor, the sage Byas, had witnessed the various events, and was minutely acquainted with their causes ; so he had better make inquiries of him. The King showed the sage Byas every princely courtesy, and sought from him the information which he desired. Byas, through the weakness of old age and spiritual pre-occupation, had given up talking ; but he slowly reduced to writing this story with its precepts and counsels, and formed it into a book. He called the work Maha- bharat, the signification of which name, as I have heard from common report, is, that maltd means great, and hhdrat war ; for as the book commemorates the great wars, he gave it the name of

Malia-bharat. But there is an objection to this, because hlidrat in the language of Hind does not mean “war.” The book records the history of the race descended from a famous king named Bharat, and so apparently the book is named after him, the letter a having been lengthened by use — but God knows ! This Byas is considered to be an emanation of the Divine Spirit, and it is believed that he is still alive. Some Hindus affirm that a person named Byas appears in every Dwapar Yug to record the events which occur among mankind; but others believe that he is a person who makes his appearance in time of war.

It is admitted by common consent that Byas compiled the Bed, which was delivered by the tongue of Brahma, and arranged it in four books. 1. Big Bed. 2. Jajur Bed. 3. Sam Bed. 4. Atharban Bed. It was b}’’ doing this he got the name of Byas, because the meaning of that word is compiler or arranger. His original name, as it was known in the middle of the Doab, was Dadi Bain (Dwaipayana). Wonderful and incredible stories are related about this Byas ; but, fearing to be prolix, I have not repeated them. This wonderful book consists of sixty lacs (6,000,000) of sloJcs. After its completion, he (Byas) repaired to the banks of the Sarsuti, near Thanesar, and his labours being ended, he there prepared a great feast, to which he invited the learned from all parts and quarters of the world. The festival was kept up for a lengthened period, and he enriched the people with valuable gifts. The sixty lacs of sloTcs are divided as follows : Thirty lacs were allotted to the deotds, who are heavenly spirits or divinities. Fifteen lacs were assigned to the inhabitants of the Satar-loh [Satya-loka) , who dwell in the world above. Fourteen lacs were appropriated to the GandJiarhs, one of the varieties of created beings endued with the property of life. One lac he left for the benefit of mankind. This he divided into eighteen parhs (parvvas) or books, for the benefit of men of merit. This one lac of sloks is still extant among men, and is known by the name of MaM-hhdrat. Twenty-four thousand sloks are occupied with the wars of the Kuruvas and Pandavas ; the remainder consists of precepts, homilies, apologues, stories, explanations, and details of the dissensions and wars of former generations. The Brahmans believe that a prophet or apostle in each Yug writes a book, and

that, notwithstanding the long periods of time which have elapsed, these works are still extant.

The infidels of Khata, Khutan (Tartary), Chin, and Hind deny that the deluge of Noah reached their country, or rather they have no belief at all in the deluge. It is the belief of some (Hindus) that the Brahman and Khatri castes have existed from the most ancient times. There are many other castes which came into existence at the end of the Dwapar Yug or third age, and the beginning of the Kali Yug or fourth age. Thus the Rajputs were not known at first, but sprang into existence in later times. After the death of Raja Bikramajit Khatri, who lived 1600 and some years before the time in which I write, they (the Rajputs) attained the sovereign power, and the manner of their gaining it is thus related : According to a custom which is still prevalent, the rdis of the Khatris make their damsels wait upon them during the day, but give them liberty to do as they please at night ; so each fair one chooses whom she will, and gives birth to children. These are brought up with great care, and are looked upon as the children of the great rdis. As sons of the house, they consider themselves as of noble birth, and call themselves sons of the Rajas. If you ask one of them whose son he is, he will tell you he is a Rajpfit, that is, son of a Raja ; for BaJ means the same as Raja, and put signifies ‘‘ son.” It IS related that the sons of Raja Suraj, whose history will be told subsequently, were called Rajputs.

Another article of faith among the Hindus is that Adam ' formed of earth has existed from the beginning of creation, and will con- tinue to exist hereafter. The world is ancient {hadim), and will never pass away. But it is no secret to men of wisdom and perspi- cacity, that although from the beginning of creation, a period sup- posed to be 800,000 years, it may be that as many thousands of Adams have appeared on the face of the earth, they have all passed away bdiind the curtain of oblivion. Jan bin Abu-1 Jan, whose history is recorded in the Holy Book, is the only exception ; but he was not born of the earth. Some were formed of air, some of fire ; but the race was always given to disobedience and rebellion, and

The word used is “Adam,” but it seems to be used here both for Adam and mankind in general.

under the behests of the God of vengeance, they were destroyed. Another race sprang up, who were not formed of earth. It appears indeed that the Hindus supposed these beings to be men formed of the dust; but how can this be? For the statements they make about the magnitude of their bodies and the length of their lives, and the wonderful and miraculous powers which they attribute to Earn, Lakhman, and others, are inappropriate to the nature of man. All this is mere talk and sound, and is of no weight in the balance of intelligence. If by accident there are any such, they must belong to that class of which mention has been made. Before Abu-1 Bashar (the father of mankind), there was no Adam of earthy extraction; and from the time of Adam to the time when I write, not more than 7000 years have passed. ""So what the Hindus say about hundreds of thousands is all extravagance, and mere falsehood. The truth is, that the country of Hindustan, like other parts of the habitable world, was populated by the descendants of Adam, and the explana- tion of the matter is this : After the deluge, the Patriarch Noah, under the orders of the Creator of heaven and earth, sent his sons Sam (Shem), Japhet, and Ham into different parts of the world, and directed them to engage in agriculture.

History of the sons of Noah. — Sam was the eldest son and repre- sentative of Noah. He begat nine sons.^ Arshad, Arfakhshad, Eai, Nud, Yud, Aram, Kabta, A’ad, Kahtan, were their names. All the tribes of the Arabs and their congeners draw their descent from them. So the patriarchs Hud and Salih and Abraham sprang from Arfakhshad. The second son of Arfakhshad was Kayumars, great ancestor of the Kings of Persia. He had six sons, Siyamak, Pars, Trak, Tuz, Sham, and Damaghan. Of these Siyamak was the suc- cessor of his father. The other sons separated, and they gave their names to the countries in which they severally settled. Some men believe that one of the sons (pisar) of Noah was named ’Ajam, and that the country of ’Ajam takes its name from his descendants. The eldest son of Siyamak was named Hoshang, from whom the Kings of Persia down to Yazdajird and Shahriyar all descended.

The children of Ydfat. — In obedience to the command of his father, Yafat went towards the east and north. There children were born

to him. His eldest son was named Turk, and all the races of the Turks, the Mughals, Uzbeks, Chaghatais, Turkomans of Tran and Armenia, are all descended from him. Yafat’s second son was named Chin, and from him the country of China was named. The third son of Yafat was Ardes, whose descendants settled all the north country to the extreme regions of darkness : the Tajiks and the people of Ghor and Sclavonia sprang from him.

Account of the descendants of Ham, with a brief description of the settlement of Hindustan. — Ham, under his father’s command, went southwards, and engaged actively in settling that country. Six sons were born to him, named Hind, Sind, Jash, Afranj, Hurmuz and Buyah. The countries of the south received their names from them. Hind, the eldest son of Ham, went to that country, which from him received the name of Hind, and employed himself in settling the country. His brother Sind settled in Sind, where he built the cities of Thatta and Multan, which received their names from his sons’ names. Hind had four sons — 1. Purb ; 2. Bang; 3. Dakhin ; 4. Nahrwal ; and they populated the countries which are known by their names. Dakhin, the son of Hind, had three sons, among whom he divided the territories of the Dakhin. Their names were Mahrat, Kanhar and Tilang; and these three races are still extant in the Dakhin. Nahrwal also had three sons, Bahroj, Kambaj and Malraj f whose names he gave to cities which he founded. Bang also had sons by whom the country of Bengal was peopled. Purb, who was the eldest son of Hind, had forty-two sons, and in a short time their progeny became numerous. They raised one of their number to be their ruler, and he exerted himself in bringing his country into order. His name was Kishan.

History of the reign of Kishan. — It must not be concealed that the first person who ascended the throne of royalty in Hind was Kishan. He was not the celebrated Kishan about whom the marvellous stories are told, wonderful adventures are related, and to whom a divine origin is attributed. This Kishan was wise, learned, brave and generous. He was of gigantic form, and unable to ride ; so, after mature reflection, he gave directions for catching elephants and other wild beasts in snares. His plans having succeeded, he had animals ^ Broach, Kambay, and — ?

on which he could ride. During his reign a person named Brahman, descended from Bang, the son of Hind, made his appearance. He was very wise and intelligent, and Kishan made him his minister. Many crafts, such as carpentry and working in iron, sprang from his intelligence ; and some maintain that writing and reading also derived their origin from him. In those days the city of Oudh was built, which was the first city established in India. Kishan was cotemporary with Tahmurasp, and he lived more than four hundred years. During his reign nearly two thousand towns and villages Avere built. He left thirty-seven sons, the eldest of whom, Maha Eaj, succeeded him.

History of Malid Bdj, son of Kishan. — With the assent of the chiefs of the tribe and of his brothers, Maha Kaj ascended the throne ; and he was more active even than his father in settling the country, and in establishing a government. The men who descended from Purb he appointed to the duties of rule and government; and to those who descended from Brahman he alletted the duties of acting as ministers and clerks and the sciences of astrology and medicine. One tribe he appointed to carry on trade and agriculture, another he directed to practise nil sorts of crafts and trades. He also busied himself in the spread of agriculture, so that he brought many distant parts of Hindustan under cultivation, and founded many cities. In these cities he settled men of knowledge and character, whom he gathered together from all parts. He also built many temples and colleges, and assigned the revenues of the lands near to them as endowments. The sannydsis and jogis and hrdhmans were engaged in teaching, doing good, and in scientific pursuits. His reign lasted seven hundred years. The kingdom of India reached a high degree of prosperity and glory, and vied with the empire of Jamshid and Faridun. To secure the stability of the government, and to promote the happiness of his soldiers and people, he made excellent laws and regulations, some of which are acted upon to the present day. He gave to each tribe a distinctive name, such as we now find in the Rahtors, Chauhans, Powars and the like. He kept up friendly relations with the Kings of Tran. But one of his brother’s sons being offended Avith him, went to Faridun, and that monarch sent Gurshasp, son of Atrud, with a valiant army, to

assist, the fugitive. So Gurshasp marched to Hindustan, and inflicted great evil on the country, ravaging and devastating it for the space of ten years. Maha Eaj gave his nephew a portion of territory, and so satisfied him. He also sent a rich tribute by Gurshasp to Fan'dun. Towards the end of his reign, the zaminddrs of Singaldip (Ceylon) and Karnatak came up with their forces, and expelled Sheo Eai, the ruler of the Dakhin. He came to seek assistance of Maha Eaj, who sent his eldest son with a large army and mighty elephants along with Sheo Eai. The zaminddrs of the Dakhin united, and having collected a large and powerful force, made ready for battle. A terrible conflict ensued, in which the son of Maha Eaj was killed, all the baggage and elephants were lost, and Sheo Eai, with his auxiliary army, fled wounded and defeated. At the news of this defeat, Maha Eaj writhed like a snake, and bit his hands with vexation ; for up to that time none of the zaminddrs of distant lands, such as the Eaj a of Tilang,^ Pegu and Malabar, had ventured upon disobedience or rebellion.

About this time Sam Nariman,^ under the orders of the King of Tran, marched to invade Hindustan, and came up to the Panjab. The commander-in-chief, Mai Chand, with the flower of the army of Hindustan, went to oppose him ; but he was not able to arrest his progress. Being compelled to treat, Mai Chand sent clever envoys with gold and jewels and elephants, and made peace by ceding the Panjab to Sam Nariman. Some writers maintain that from the reign of Faridun the Panjab was held by the Kings of ’Ajam, and that the descendants of Gurshasp, among whom were Eustam and his ancestors, held the Panjab, Kabul and Zabul, Sind and Nimroz in jdgir. Mai Chand was a distinguished general, and the country of Malwa derived its name from him. After returning to Maha Eaj, he marched without delay in great force against the Dakhin. As soon as the enemy heard of his approach, their hearts sank, and they

^ The original words are, zaminddrdn-i jazdir-i dur dast misl rdjd-i Tilang^' etc. Briggs’s translation is : “ The islands of Acheen and Malacca and Pegu.” Malacca is clearly an error for Tilang; but some warrant may be found for “the islands of Acheen ” in the words, '■^jazdir-i dur,’^ which mean literally “ distant islands ” ; but the following words, “ such as Tilang, Pegu, and Malabar,” show that the word jazdir is not used literally.

dispersed. Mai Chand so used the sword of retribution upon them, that not a vestige of them was left. He placed garrisons in several places, and on his march he founded the forts of Gwalior and Bayana. Mai Chand brought back with him from Telingana and the Dakhin the sciences of singing and music. He spent much of his time at the fort of Gwalior, and there he had many children by the singers w'hom he had brought back with him ; — so music flourished in that country. After seven hundred years, Maha Eaj died, leaving fourteen sons, and he was succeeded by the eldest, Keshu Eaj, who took his seat upon the glorious throne of Hindustan.

History of Keshu Bdj, son of Mahd Bdj. — At the very beginning of his reign, he sent his brothers (on service) in various directions while he marched by way of Kalpi to Gondwara. Then he pursued his course to the Dakhin, and rode as far as the boundaries of Singal- dip. There he exacted tribute from the rebellious rdis, and exerted himself in bringing the various tribes into subjection. On his return, the zaminddrs of the Dakhin leagued together, and raised the banner of hostility. Day by day their forces increased, till they became powerful enough to threaten Keshu Eaj. Finding himself unable to resist, Keshu Eaj made peace, and returned home. He sent letters and many gifts to Minuchihr, and begged for his aid. Minuchihr then sent Sam Nariman with a powerful army. Keshu Eaj went to Jalandhar to meet his ally, and after having entertained him, marched with him towards the Dakhin. The rdis of the Dakhin were dismayed at the approach of the army of ITan, and so that country came back into the possession of the Eaj a of Hind. Keshu Eaj showed every attention to Sam Nariman, and accom- panied him homewards to the borders of the Panjab. Then he sent presents and rarities to Minuchihr, and went to dwell in the city of Oudh. There he spread the protection of his justice over the realm of Hind, and secured the happiness of his people. After he had reigned two hundred and twenty years he died, and was succeeded by his eldest son.

History of Firoz Rdi^ son of Keshu Bdj. — Firoz Eai was well versed in the Hindu shdstras or sacred books. He was fond of the society of learned and religious men, and took no thought of riding ^ Briggs’s translation calls him “Munere Bay.”

or warfare. He devoted himself entirely to religions men, and be- stowed much money on the poor. He went twice to the city of Bihar, and there dispensed large sums in charity. The city of Munir was built in his reign. One very improper action of which he was guilty was this : When, through the death of Sam Nariman, weakness fell upon the government of Minuchihr, Afrasiyab, seizing the opportunity, raised a force against him, and defeated him. Firoz Eai, then, throwing aside his obligations to Minuchihr and Sam Nari- man, marched an army to the Panjab, and wrested that country from the possession of Zal,^ son of Sam Nariman. He then made Jalandhar his capital, and sent an ambassador with presents to wait upon Afrasiyab, and to enrol himself among the numbers of his tribu- taries. The Panjab remained in the possession of the rdis of Hind, until the reign of Kai-kubad. When Kustam, son of Dastan,^ the champion of the world, had won the fame of a hero by his own deeds, he marched to recover the Panjab. Firoz Eai was unable to resist his attack, so he fled to the hills of Tirhut. Eustam having taken Sind, Multan, and the Panjab, set off towards Tirhut. Then Firoz Eai, in the greatest fear, fled by way of the desert to the hills of Jharkand and Gondwara. He never saw another happy day, but died soon afterwards, having reigned five hundred and thirty-seven years.

Account of RiistanfCs bestowing the sovereignty of Hind upon Suraj. — They say that when intelligence of the death of Firoz Eai reached Eustam, son of Dastan, the dishonesty and faithlessness of the deceased Eai made him averse to permitting any one of his sons to succeed to the throne. Accordingly he raised to the regal dignity one of the chiefs of Hind, named Suraj, who had been early in making his submission. Eustam then returned to Tran. Suraj established his authority, and became a powerful King. From the shores of the sea (daryd) of Bengal to the confines of the Dakhin, his governors and officers sat (in authority). He was very active in promoting the erection of buildings and the spread of agriculture. During his reign, a Brahman came from the hills of Jharkand to wait upon him, and as he was deeply versed in the occult sciences and magic, he obtained a complete ascendancy over the mind of Suraj, and converted him to idolatry.

^ Zal and Dastan are names of the same person, the father of Rustam.

EstahUshnent of Idolatry. — They say that Hind obeyed and worshipped the true God, as he had seen and heard of his father Ham, the son of Noah. His descendants, generation after genera- tion, pursued the same course. At length, in the reign of Maha Eaj, a person came from Tran, who inculcated the worship of the Sun. That worship spread widely, and some men became worship- pers of the stars, others of fire. But when idol-worship arose, it spread more widely than all. Because that Brahman told Suraj that whoever made a large image of an ancestor' in gold or silver or stone, would find the way to salvation ; so many people, small and great, formed images of the departed, and engaged in the worship of them. Suraj, having built the city of Kanauj on the bank of the Ganges, applied himself to idolatry. This sentiment spread among the people, and ever}’’ man formed an idol according to his own devices, and paid it his adoration. So ninety tribes, each in its own way, engaged in idolatry. Suraj made the city of Kanauj his capital, and dwelt there for some years. During his reign, it spread to the distance of twenty-five Tcos. Suraj died after a reign of two hundred and fifty years. He was cotemporary with Kai-kubad, and every year used to send tribute to him. He also acknowledged the claims of Kustam, son of Dastan, gave him his own sister’s daughter in marriage, and continually sent him presents and rarities. He had thirty-five sons, the eldest of whom. Bah Eaj, succeeded him.

History of the reign of Bah Raj, son of Suraj. — When Bah Eaj ascended the throne, he built a city, which he called Bahraj,’^ from his own name. He studied music for many years. He exerted himself actively in completing the city of Benares, which his father had founded in the latter days of his life, but had not been permitted to finish. Showing great affection and kindness to his brothers, he made them happy with suitable jdgirs. Some assert that Bah Eaj gave to his brothers, the sons of Suraj, the name of Eajput. He also gave names to other tribes. But he set at nought the regulations of Maha Eaj, which had been the mainstay of the State ; so the affairs of government fell into disorder, and madness seized upon

^ Buzurg^' simply, “great,” — and hence “ancestors” or “great men.” The subsequent use of guzashtagdn “ the departed,” makes clear what was meant.

every brain. A brahman named Kidar came down from the Siwalik hills, and raised a rebellion against him. After some fighting, the brahman obtained the mastery, and the sovereignty of Hind fell from the hands of Bah Eaj. His reign lasted for thirty-six years.

Account of the reign of Kidar Brahman. — When this man took the bride of the sovereignty of Hind to his bosom, he was well acquainted with the science of government, and became a great king. He acknowledged himself tributary to Kai-Kaus and Kai- Khusru, and sent oiferings to them. He built the fort of KHinjar. Towards the end of his reign, a powerful man named Shankal came from Kuch, and raised a rebellion. First he got possession of Bang (Bengal) and Bihar. Then he collected an enormous army, and fought several hard battles with Kidar, over whom he obtained the victory. Kidar reigned nineteen years.

History of the reign of Shankal.^ — After Shankal obtained the throne, he affected great pomp and state. He founded the city of Lakhnauti, better known under the name of Gaur. For two thousand years that city was the capital of the Kings of Bang (Bengal), but in the days of the descendants of Timur, the place went to ruin. Tanda became the seat of government, instead of it. Shankal got together a force of four thousand elephants, one hundred thousand horse, and four hundred thousand infantry, and was very proud and magnificent. In his time Afrasiyab sent a messenger to demand payment of his tribute and dues ; but Shankal sent him back again with great scorn and contempt. Afrasiyab was greatly enraged at this, and sent his general Piran Wasiya, with an army of fifty thousand fierce Turks, to Hindustan. Shankal resolved to fight, and having assembled a mighty force, marched to the encounter. The armies met in the hills of Kuch, near the frontier of Bengal, and the battle began. For two whole days the conflict raged. The Turks showed great resolution and bravery, and put fifty thousand of their opponents to the sword ; but the enemy was so numerous that they made no great impression upon them. The Turks on their side had lost seventeen thousand men, and matters at length went so hard with them, that on the third day they were compelled to retreat. Their country was far away, and the enemy overwhelming ;

so they fled into the hills of the neighbourhood, and got possession of a stronghold. Plran Wasiya drew up a despatch containing an account of his condition, and sent it by some brave young men to Afrasiyab. Piran was engaged night and day in fighting, for the Hindus swarmed around, and pressed him vigorously. They en- deavoured to force an entry with showers of arrows, and all were in perplexity as to how matters would end.

Arrival of Afrdsiydh in Hind and JRelief of Pirdn Wasiija. — At this time Afrasiyab was at the city of Kankdazh (Kunduz?), between Chin (China) and Khutan (Tartary), one month’s march on the other side of the city of Khanbaligh. When he was informed of the situation of Piran Wasiya, he resolved to go to his rescue -with a hundred thousand choice cavalry. Pressing on with all speed, he arrived just as Shankal had summoned his Kais, and by means of the vast force he had collected was pressing Piran Wasiya to ex- tremity. Afrasiyab instantly made his attack, and the Hindus were so dismayed that he scattered them like chaff. All their equipments and baggage fell into his hands. Piran Wasiya being released from the grasp of the enemy, waited on his master. Afrasiyab then pursued Shankal ; and as often as he came up with him, he inflicted loss upon his men. Shankal fled into Bang, and went into the city of Gaur ; but the Turks pressed after him so closely that he could only stay there one day, but continued his flight into the mountains of Tirhiit. The Turks so completely devastated the country of Bang that no trace of a town was left. Afrasiyab got information about Shankal, and prepared to pursue him. But Shankal was driven to extremity ; so he sent some prudent men with a mes- sage to Afrasi^^ab, asking forgiveness, and offering to do homage. Afrasiyab consented, and Shankal came to his presence, with a sword and shroud (hanging on his neck), and begged permission to be allowed to go with him to Turan. Afrasiyab approved of his proposal, and bestowed the throne upon Shankal’s son. So Afrasiyab took Shankal with him, and Shankal served him faithfully till he was killed by the hand of Eustam in the war of Hamawaran. Shankal reigned sixty-four years.

Ealiat, son of Shankal, raised to the throne hy Afrdsiydh. — Kahat was a devout and well-meaning Kaja. He divided the revenues of his

kingdom, which stretched from Garhf to Malwa, into three portions. One he dispensed in charity, the second he appropriated to the support of his father Shankal and the tribute to Afrasiyab, and the third he devoted to the maintenance of his army and cattle. Through this arrangement his army diminished, and the Eaja of Malwa, who was subject to him, and paid him revenue, threw off the yoke of obedience, and wrested the fort of Gwalior from the possession of his officers. Eaja Eahat had built the fort of Eohtas, and he had erected a large idol temple, where he was then engaged in worship. He led an army against the Eaja of Malwa, but returned unsuc- cessful.^ Eahat reigned eighty-one years, when he died. As he had no son who had attained to years of discretion, a disturbance arose at Kanauj, which was the capital. A man named Maha Eaj, of the Kachhwaha tribe, and a native of Marwar, raised a rebellion, seized upon the capital Kanauj, and became King.

Sistory of the reign of Mahd Bdj Kachhwaha. — After a time, and when Maha Eaj had established his power, he led a large army against Nahrwala. He wrested that country from its zaminddrs, who were ahirs or cowherds, and established ports on the sea-shore for the purposes of traffic. There he built ships and launched them, after which he returned. He died after a reign of forty years. His cotemporary was Gushtasp, to whom he sent tribute every year.

History of the reign of Kaid Bdj. — Kaid Eaj was nephew by the sister’s side of Maha Eaj, in accordance with whose will and testa- ment he ascended the throne. At this time, Eustam, son of Dastan, had been killed, and as the Panjab had for some time had no vigorous governor, Kaid Eaj led his army thither, and easily obtained pos- session of the country. He dwelt for some time in one of its ancient cities named Behra, and then built the fort of Jammu. In it he placed one of his adherents, a man of the Gakkhar^ tribe named Durg, and made- him governor of it. From that time to the present, that fortress has remained in the possession of that tribe. After a while the Gakkhar tribe, and a tribe called Chobeh, who are zaminddrs of consequence in the Panjab, allied themselves with the

2 This is clear enough in the lithograph, but Briggs’s translation has “Boolbas,” and a MS. “ Malnas.”

dwellers in the desert, and with the people who live in the hills between Kabul and Kandahar. The allies marched against Kaid Kaj, and he, being unable to resist, relinquished that country (of the Panjab) to them. From that time this tribe spread, and took pos- session of every hill which had a chief. It would seem that this tribe is the same as the Afghans of the present day. Kaid Eaj reigned for forty-three years.

History of the reign of Jai Chand. — Jai Chand was the commander- in-chief of Kaid Kaj, and, finding himself strong enough, placed his feet upon the throne. In his reign there was a great famine ; and as he was not of royal race, he had no sympathy for the sufferings of the people. He spent his days at Bayana in debauchery and pleasure, while his soldiers and subjects were perishing. Many villages and towns went to ruin, and Hindustan was many years before it recovered from the effects of his neglect. Jai Chand reigned for sixty years. His cotemporary was Darab, to whom he sent tribute every year. He left a sod of tender years, whom his mother placed upon the throne, she herself carrying on the govern- ment as regent. But Jai Chand’s brother, named Dihlu, conspired with several chiefs, put the boy aside, and placed the crown upon his own head.

History of the rebellion of Bdjd Dihlu. — Dihlu was a Eaja of con- siderable courage and daring, and he was kind and gentle to the people. His great object was to promote their happiness. He built the city of Dehli, and named it after himself. When he had reigned forty years, a man named Fur, who was related to the Eaja of Kamaun, and dwelt in that country, broke out in rebellion. He first got possession of the country of Kamaun, and then he marched against the fort of Kanauj. A great battle was fought between him and Eaja Dihlu, in which Dihlu was taken prisoner; and Fur sent him to be confined in the fort of Eohtas.

Reign of Bdjd Fur.^ — Fur soon afterwards led an army to Bang, and extended his sway as far as the shores of the Indian Ocean. He became a very great Eai, and, according to Munawwar Khan, no Eai was ever equal to him. After he had ascended the throne, he relinquished the practice of sending tribute to the King of TTan.

Iskandar led his army to India; and as Fur would not submit, Iskandar marched with his army like a swarm of locusts or ants to encounter him. A great battle was fought near Sirhind, and Fiir was killed. Fur reigned for seventy-three years. It must not be concealed that the Kais of the Dakhin also had grown in power and dominion ; — such as Kul Chand, who built the city of Kulbarga ; Mirich Chand, who built the town of Mirich, to which he gave his own name; Biji Chand, who built and populated the city of Bij ana- gar, and made it the seat of the government of the Dakhin. There were other Kais besides these; but to name them all would be a tedious task. When Iskandar came to India, there was a great Eaja named Bidar, who had built the fort of Bidar. The tribe of Eaj- bidars, which still exists, and is renowned as one of the bravest of all the tribes of the Dakhin, is of his lineage, and by the decrees of Fate is established in the sovereignty of the Dakhin. When this Eaja heard of the arrival of Iskandar, and the death of Fur, he sent his son, with valuable presents and elephants, to Iskandar, with the object of inducing him to abstain from the conquest of his kingdom, and to return to Tran. After the death of Fur, and the return of Iskandar, a man named Smsar Chand ^ seized the reins of authority in Hindustan, and in a short time became master of the whole country, which had fallen into a state of anarchy. He had seen with his own eyes the destruction of Fur ; so, through fear, he every year sent the tribute before it was demanded to Gudarz, who at that time was reigning in Iran. His reign lasted seventy years. A man named Junah then obtained the throne by force.

Rebellion of Junah. — Some state that Junah was son of a daughter of Fiir. After he ascended the throne, he performed many good deeds, and exhibited many excellent qualities. He endeavoured to promote the prosperity of the kingdom, and established many towns and villages on the banks of the Ganges and Jumna. He also made great efforts to administer justice. He was contemporary with Ardashir Babagan. One year Ardashir marched against India, and reached as far as the neighbourhood of Sirhind. Junah was very much alarmed, and hastened to do homage to him. He presented pearls and gold and jewels and elephants as tribute, and so induced

Ardashir to return. Junali then went back to Kanauj, and lived there for some time in tranquillity. After a reign of ninety years, he died, leaving two sons, the elder of whom, Kalyan Chand, suc- ceeded him.

Reign of Kahjdn Chand. — Kalyan was a violent and tyrannical ruler, who for trifling faults put his people to death, and upon mere suspicion seized the wealth and property of innocent men. He also exacted contributions from the raiijats by force. So the people emigrated to other parts, and Hindustan became desolate. Kanauj, the capital, was reduced to such a state of wretchedness that only the Kaja and a few inhabitants were left. The splendour of his Court had departed, and the realm of Hindustan was full of misery. The Eai's on all sides grew strong in power and high in dignity, so that it is necessary to write something about them. But as it is not necessary to record all the matters relating to the Kafs of Hind and Kanauj, I will write about the afiairs of Kai Bikramajit, who reigned in the kingdom of Malwa.

History of Bihramdjit the Just, King of Ifdlwd. — Bikramajit belonged to the tribe of Powar. His excellent character is apparent in the many stories and tales about him that are current among the Hindus. In his youth he put on the garments of a religious mendi- cant, and wandered over many countries in the society of devotees, submitting to their discipline. When he reached his fiftieth year, under the guidance of heaven, he placed himself at the head of his army. It was ordained by the Almighty that he should attain a high position, and should rescue God’s servants from the violence and oppression of the tyrannical Eai's. Hay by day his power and prosperity increased, so that in a short time all the territory of Malwa and NahrwMa came into his possession. He spread the shadow of his justice and equity and kindness over the inhabitants of every city, so that violence was repressed, and protection secured. The Hindus believe that he had a fore-knowledge of what would happen to men, and that whatever he foretold came to pass without lack or fail. Whatever of good or evil, of benefit or injury, oc- curred in his dominions during the night, all, without the least exception, became known to him in the morning as clear as the light. Notwithstanding his royal station, he associated with his

people in the most brotherly way. In his dwelling he had only earthenware vessels and ordinary mats. The city of Ujjain was built in his reign. He also founded the fort of Dhar, and chose it as his place of abode. The temple of Maha-kal at Ujjain was built by him, and he made fixed endowments for the brahmans and jogis whom he appointed to live in that temple, and perform the worshij). He passed much of his time in the worship of the creation and in the worship of the Creator (parastish-i Ichalh wa parastish-i hlidlik). The faith of the people in him is unbounded, and they tell most wonderful and miraculous stories about him. An era of years and months dating from his death is used in documents, and at the time when I write this, in the year one thousand and fifteen of the Hijra, one thousand six hundred and sixty-three years of this era have elapsed. Eaja Bikramajit was a co temporary of Ardashir, or, accord- ing to others, of Shahpur. Towards the end of his reign, a zamin- ddr of the Dakhin named Salibahan rose in rebellion against him, and a battle was fought between them on the banks of the Nerbadda. Salibahan was victorious, and Bikramajit was killed. There are many statements as to the length of the reign of Bikramyit; but as none of them are acceptable to reason, nothing is here said about it. For a long time after the death of Bikramajit, the country of Malwa was in a wretched state, and had no just and liberal ruler. At length a Baja named Bhoj seized the reins of government.

Reign of Raja Bhoj. — This Eaja also belonged to the tribe of Powar. In justice and liberality he vied with Bikramajit. He did not do as people usually do at night, but wandered about the city, looking into the circumstances of the poor and needy.. His constant anxiety was to better the condition of men. The cities of Ghargun (G%run?) and Bijagar and the town of Hindiya were built in his reign. He was very fond of gathering women together. Twice every year he held a great festival, to which musicians and singers resorted in flocks from all parts of Hindustan. For forty days the amusements were kept up, and nothing went on but dancing, sing- ing, music, and story-telling. In those days, all classes received food and wine and betel from the Court, and at the time of de- parture each person received a robe and ten mislcdls of gold. He died after a reign of fifty years. In those days, a ruler named Bas

Deo sat upon the throne of Kanauj. He recovered the countries of of Bihar and Bengal, which had been lost to the liais of Kanauj, and he was a monarch of great power and dignit3^ In his reign, Bahrain Giir disguised himself in the dress of a merchant, and went to Kanauj for the purpose of ascertaining the truth about the king- dom of Hindustan, and inquiring into the manners and customs of the Hindus. It is said that in those days a fierce and terrible elephant frequented the neighbourhood of Kanauj, and not a day passed without his trampling to death some of the wayfarers who were going to or coming away from that city. Bas Deo made repeated attempts to destroy him, hut had returned unsuccessful. It so happened that on the very day on which Bahram reached Kanauj, that elephant approached the outskirts of the city, and made a terrible trumpeting and bellowing. The Kaja ordered the gates of the city to be shut, but Bahram went out of the city alone, attacked the animal, and despatched him with one wooden arrow {cJiobah tir). All the people of the city, small and great, who had gone out to see the sport, fell at the feet of Bahram, and their shouts and acclamations reached the skies. When Bas Deo heard of this, he sent for him to his presence. On Bahi’am’s approaching the Baja, one of the attendants of the Court, who had in a previous year con- veyed the tribute to Bahram’s country, recognized him, and informed the Eaja. Thereupon the Baja descended from his throne, and paid homage to Bahram. Afterwards he gave him his daughter in mar- riage, and sent him back with all honour. As long as he lived, he every year sent him rare and choice presents. He died after reign- ing seventy years. The fort and city of Kalpi were among the works of his reign. He left thirty-two sons, and for ten years after his death there was a continual struggle and war among the brothers for the throne. At length Bam Deo, the commander-in-chief of Bas Deo, with the aid of other leaders of the army, took possession of the throne, and became a powerful monarch.

Reign of Ram Deo Rdlitor. — Bam Deo belonged to the tribe of Bahtor. He was a man of much courage, determination and vigour. By degrees he put down the rebellious chiefs who had shown signs of disaffection, and made himself quite secure against domestic revolts. Then he equipped an army, and marched against Marwai',

which he wrested from the possession of the tribe of Kachhwaha, and established his own tribe, the Kahtors, in their place. From that day to this they have held the country. He removed the tribe of Kachhwahas, and settled them in the vicinity of the fort of Rohtas. He took in marriage the daughter of a chief of that tribe. Afterwards he marched against Laklmauti, and having taken pos- session of it, he gave it to his nephew, and carried off enormous spoil. At the end of three years, he returned to Kanauj, and remained there two years. Then he led an army against Malwa. Having made the country amenable to his revenue officers, he founded many towns and villages. He repaired the fort of Narwar, and placed a Eahtor in it as commandant. Then he demanded of the Kai of Bijanagar his daughter in marriage. Sheo Eai, who then held in his hands the reins of authority over the Dakhin, was alarmed at Earn Deo’s power, and sent him his daughter, with a handsome dowry. Earn Deo stayed for two j^ears in Gondwara, and killed many of the powerful zaminddrs. He then returned to Kanauj, and dwelt there seven years in happiness. After that, he marched into the Siwalik hills, and made all the zaminddrs tributary. The Eaja of Kamaun, who was the most important person in those moun- tains, and whose ancestors had ruled the country for nearly two thousand years, came out against Earn Deo, and gave him battle. The conflict raged from morning till night, and there was dreadful slaughter on both sides ; but victory at length inclined to Earn Deo, and the Eaja of Kamaun, leaving his equipage and elephants, took refuge in the mountains. Earn Deo took his daughter and tribute, and having confirmed the country to the Eaja, he next turned his attention to the country of Nagarkot. He ravaged all that country, and pursued his course until he came to a place called Sankot^ Pindi. There he stopped, and went no further, in consequence of the sanctity of a temple of Durga, near Nagarkot. He sent a messenger to summon the Eaja of that place ; but the Eaja refused to come to him. Some Brahmans then came to Earn Deo, and gave assurances to him, that if he would go and visit the temple, the Eaja would wait upon him. So the two Eajas saw each other. Earn

1 The lithograph has “Hankot,” but the translation has “ Sankot,” with which the MS, agrees.

Deo gave much gold to the attendants of the temple, and having asked the hand of the Eaja’s daughter for his son, he went on towards the fort of Jammu. The Eaja of Jammu, confident in the valour of his army, the strength of his fortress, the difficulty of access, the density of the jungle, and the abundance of his supplies, refused to surrender, and came forth to battle. But he was unable to stand against Earn Deo, and his army fled. Earn Deo sent a force in pursuit, while he himself invested the fortress, which he shortly took. He made many prisoners, and obtained much spoil. Afterwards the Eaja of Jammu came humbly to wait upon him. He demanded a daughter of the Eaja for another son of his, and then departed. From the river Behut, which descends from Kash- mir, that land of Paradise, into the Panjab, he proceeded to Bengal and the shores of the sea, which is far distant from the Siwalik hills, as much perhaps as five months’ march. Nearly five hundred rats and rajas who dwelt in the hills were reduced, and compelled to pay tribute. With gold and jewels, and stores and elephants, he returned to Kanauj, his capital ; there he took his seat upon his throne, and held a great festival. Then he assembled his soldiers, and made them an increase of twenty (per cent.). Having rewarded his brave men, he distributed a third part of his booty among the people. After this, he stayed at home in ease and happiness, and never travelled abroad, until, like other mortal men, he died, after a reign of fifty-four years. The Hindus are agreed that they never had a greater king than Earn Deo. He was the cotemporary of Firoz Shah Samani, son of Kai-Kubad, to whom he every year sent tribute, and never failed to show his obedience.

Reign of Fartdh Chand Sansodiyahd — After the death of Earn Deo, quarrels arose among his sons, and war and bloodshed followed. Many calamities fell upon the State of Kanauj, and the enormous treasures of Earn Deo were squandered. One of Earn Deo’s generals, named Partab Chand, took advantage of the brothers’ quarrels, and assembling a numerous army, and marching to Kanauj, he easily took possession of the throne. His first act was to remove all the sons of Earn Deo who were the heirs to the throne, and he left no trace of any one of them. He then repressed all the zaminddrs, ^ The Ranas of Pdipur are of the Sansodiya or Sasodiya tribe.

who in various parts had cast off authority and gathered strength. Having brought them into due subordination, he became a powerful King. He was successful in many of his enterprises ; so he became puffed up with a sense of his own greatness, and withheld the tribute due to the Kings of Tran. When a person came from Naushirwan to demand it, he sent him back empty-handed. Nau- shirwan then sent the army of Tran, and overran the country of Multan and the Panjab. Partab Chand was in dismay, and repent- ing of his conduct, he begged forgiveness, and sent much gold and jewels to obtain a cessation from the ravaging and plundering. So long as he lived, he ever afterwards sent the tribute yearly. After his death, the Kais of various parts became powerful, and seized upon much territory, so that little was left to his children. They were consequently called Kanas, because in Hindi a Kaja of small territory and inferior power is called Eana.^ The descendants of Partab Chand continue to wield authority at the time of my writing this book ; but the mountain land of Komalmir and the neighbour- ing country is all that they hold. Chitor, Mandisor, and many other of their possessions have been conquered by the descendants of Amir Timur.

Reign of A'nand Deo Rajput. — Anand Deo was of the Bais tribe. After the death of Raja Partab Chand, he revolted in the country of Malwa, and his power increased -from day to day, until he became possessed of all the countries of Malwa, Nahrwala, Mahrat (Mahratta country), and the territory of the Dakhin and Birar. He built the forts of Ramgar and Mahur. The fort of Mandu also dates from his time. His cotemporary was Khusru Parwdz. He reigned sixteen years, and then died. In the same year a Hindu, by name Mai Deo, rose in rebellion in the Doab, and collecting a large army he wrested Dehli from the hands of the sons of Partab Chand. After the capture of Dehli he led his army against Kanauj, which also he acquired. They say that under him Kanauj attained a high degree of prosperity, so that the shops of the betel-sellers increased from one to thirty thousand, and there were sixt}'' thousand houses of singers and' musicians. From these instances some idea may be

^ Firishta is here inaccurate, for the Rhna of Pdipur was and is considered of the very highest dignity.

formed of tlie rest. Mai Deo died after a reign of forty-two years. He had no sons, and in every part of the country the Kais assumed independence, so that until the rise of the great and glorious Muham- madan power, there was no great paramount Eaja sitting on the throne of Hindustan. When Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni made his holy war against Hindustan, there was a Eaja ruling at Kanauj who was called Kur ; the Eaja at Mirat was Dharm Datt ; at Mahaban was Kill Chand ; at Lahore was Jaipal, son of Hatpal ; at Kalinjar was Biji Eao ; and so in each of the countries of Malwa, Ajmir, Gujarat, and Gwalior, there was a different ruler. Of these I shall take no notice, but shall proceed to describe the rise and progress of the Muhammadan Empire, and the exploits of its Sultans.

Rise of Islam in Hindustan. — The first leader of Islam who placed his foot upon the territory of Hindustan, and waged the holy war with the people of that country, was Muhallab, son of Safra. In the year twenty-eight of the Hijra, ’Abdu-lla, son of ’Amar, governor of Basra, marched against Persia on behalf of the Khalifa ’Usman, as the peoj^le of that country had cast off their allegiance after the death of the Khalifa ’Umar. He led his army thither, and returned victorious to Basra. In the 'year thirty the Khalifa ’Usman removed Walid ’Akaba from the government of Kufa, in consequence of his habit of drinking, and appointed Sa’id, son of ’As, to succeed him. In the same year, Sa’id went towards Tabaristan. The Khalifas Hasan and Husain also took part in that invasion, and under their auspicious influence, the country of Jurjan, of which Astarabad is the capital, was conquered. As the price of peace, the men of Jurjan, two hundred thousand in number, accepted the faith of Islam, and thus made their home flourish.

In the year 31 the Khalifa ’Usman commanded ’Abdu-lla bin ’Amar to make the conquest of Khurasan; so he marched against that country by way of Kirman, with a large army. His advanced force was under the command of Hanif bin Kais. He afterwards subdued Sistan, Khutan and Naishapur. The marzbdn of Tus joined him, and then Sarakhs, Hirat, Badghis, Ghor, Ghurjistan, Marv, Talikan and Balkh came under Muhammadan sway. After ’Abdu-lla had in a short time achieved all these conquests, he appointed Kais bin Hashim to Khurasan ; Hanif bin Kais to Marv, Talikan

and Naishapur ; and Khalid bin ’Abdu-lla to Hirat, Glior and Ghur- jistan. Having left these governors, he himself returned to the holy places at Mecca.

In the year 82 ’Abdu-r Eahman bin Eabi’a, under the command of ’Usman, had gone out to war against Balkh ; but he and many of his men were slain. Such of them as escaped the sword fled into Jurjan and Jilan. In the same year Karun, one of the amirs of ’Ajam, — when he found that ’Abdu-lla ’Amar had gone to visit the holy places, and that Khurasan was left without any Persian Musul- mans, — collected forty thousand men from Tabbas, Hirat, Badghis, Khutan, Ghor and other places, and then rose in rebellion. ’Abdu-lla ’Azim, who was with Haiuf at Naishapur, with forty thousand men, put down his rebellion, and for that service received the government of Khurasan.

In the year 44 Mu’awiya, son of Abu Sufiyan, appointed Ziyad bin Ummaiya governor of Basra, Khurasan and Sistan. In the same year Abdu-r Eahman bin Samar, under the permission of Ziyad, efiected the conquest of Kabul, and reduced the inhabitants to obedience. About that time Muhallab bin Abu Safra, one of the great ’Arab amirs, came from Marv to Kabul and Zabul. He then proceeded to Hindustan, to wage holy war against the infidels. He made ten or twelve thousand boys and girls prisoners. At that time many of the people of Hind, by the will of God, became Muslims.

In the year 53 a disease ^ made its appearance in the fingers of Ziyad bin Ummaiya, and he died. Mu’awiya then appointed his son ’Abdu-lla to be governor of Kufa. After a while, he mai-ched towards Mawarau-n Nahr; and after capturing several cities, he returned, and received the government of Basra. He sent before him Islam bin Zira’at al Gilani to take charge of Khurasan.

In the year 59 ^ Mu’awiya appointed Sa’d bin ’Usman ’Affan to the government of Khurasan. In the year 62 Yazid bin Mu’awiya appointed Salam bin Ziyad to the government of Khu- rasan and Sistan. Among the men whom Yazid sent with Salam was Muhallab, son of Abu Safra. He appointed Salam, son of his

2 The lithograph erroneously gives the date as “ 50.”

younger brother Yazid bin Ziyad, to the government of Sistan. When he heard that the King (pddshdh) of Kabul had broken out in rebellion, and had imprisoned ’Abdu-lla bin ZiyM, the ’Arab governor (hdlcim), he immediately collected an army, and marched against the people of Kabul. After a severe fight, he was defeated with heavy loss. When intelligence of this reached Salam Ziyad, he sent to Kabul Talha bin ’Abdu-lla bin Hanif Khuzai, who is well known by the title of Talha of the Talhas,” with the object of buying back Abu ’Ubaidah for five hundred thousand dirams. After that, Salam gave the government of Sistan to Talha. He then sent the armies of Ghor and BMghis against Kabul, and compelled the people of that place to become obedient. Then he appointed to the government of Kabul Khalid bin ’Abdu-lla, who, according to some, was of the lineage of Khalid Walid ; but according to others, he was of the stock of Abu Jahl. When Khalid bin ’Abdu-lla was dismissed from the government of Kabul, he, through fear of the governor of Majad, thought his journey to ’Irak-’ajami would be difficult and dangerous. So, with his wives and children, and with a party of ’Arabs, he, under the guidance of some of the chief men of Kabul, proceeded to the Sulaiman mountains, which lie between Multan and Peshawar, and there took up his abode. He gave- his daughter in marriage to an Afghan of repute, who had become a convert to the Muhammadan faith. That woman bore sons, from whom sprang two individuals, who obtained high renown. One was Lodi, the other Sur. The Afghan tribes of Lodi and Sur spring from this source. In the book, Matla’u-l Anwdr, written by a trust- worthy author,!] which I saw at Burhanpur, in Khandes, it is affirmed that the Afghans are (descended from) nobles of Pharaoh. Por when the Prophet Moses prevailed over the reprobate Pharaoh, many of his chiefs were repentant, and were converted to the religion of Moses. Some of the chiefs who were devoted to Pharaoh and his god, in the grossness of their ignorance, rejected Islam ; and having left their native land, emigrated to India, and settled in the Sulaiman mountains. There their tribes grew numerous, and re- ceived the name of Afghans. When Abraha went up to attack the Ka’bah, many infidels from far and wide accompained him. Among them were the Afghans, who joined him for a certain time. When

they arrived at Mecca, they met their punishment, and went to de- struction. The Musulman Afghans engaged in agriculture, and in other occupations, for obtaining a livelihood. They became rich in horses, cattle and sheep, and they formed connexions and kept up communications with those Muhammadans who had followed Mu- hammad Kasim through Sind to Multan, and there dwelt.

In the year 143, when their descendants had greatly increased, they descended from the mountains, and took possession of certain places in Hindustan, such as Karmaj, Peshawar, and Shanuran. The Kaja of Lahore, who was related to the Kaja of Ajinir, resolved upon preventing their inroads, so he sent against them one of his nobles, in command of a thousand horse. The Afghans advanced to meet him, and slew many of the Hindus. After this the Kaja of Lahore sent his nephew with two thousand horse and five thousand foot, well fitted out, against the encroaching Afghans. On this occasion the people of Khilj and Ghor, and the men of Kabul, who were now adorned with the glory of Islam, considered it their duty to assist their countrymen, so they sent four thousand men to support them. When they joined, the flag of resistance was unfurled. In the course of five months seventy battles were fought with the infidels, and in many of the fights the confederates were victorious. But when winter brought up its forces, the infidels were unable to endure, and were reduced to great misery, so they abandoned the contest, and returned to their homes. When the winter was over, the nephew of the Kaja of Lahore returned to the attack with a fresh army. On this occasion, also, the men of Kabul and of Khilj brought up their reinforcements. The armies met between Karmaj and Peshawar. Sometimes the infidels gave battle, and drove the Musulmans to the hills ; sometimes the Musulmans took the offen- sive, and repulsed the infidels at the point of the sword. When the rainy season came on, the infidels were anxious about the rising of the waters of the Indus, so, without knowing whether they were victorious or defeated, they retired to their homes. The men of Kabul and Khilj also went home ; and whenever they were ques- tioned about the Musulmans of the Kohistan (the mountains), and how matters stood there, they said, “Don’t call it Kohistan, but Afghanistan ; for there is nothing there but Afghans and dis-

turbances.” Thus it is clear that for this reason the people of tbe country call their home in their own language Afghanistan, and themselves Afghans. The people of India call them Patan; but the reason for this is not known. But it occurs to me, that when, under the rule of Muhammadan sovereigns, Musulmans first came to the city of Patna, and dwelt there, the people of India (for that reason) called them Patans — but God knows !

When the peace between the Eaja of Lahore and the infidel Gakkhars ended in war, the Gakkhars formed an alliance with their neighbours the Afghans. The Raja of Lahore made peace ; and, to put an end to contention, he ceded to them some districts of the Lamghanat, and associated with them the tribe of Khilj, which, in the infancy of the Afghans, had settled in that desert (salird). The conditions were, that they were to guard the frontier, and prevent the armies of Islam from entering into Hindustan. The Afghans erected a fort in the Kohistan (mountains) of Peshawar, which they called Khaibar; and they took possession of the country of Roh. During the ascendancy of the Samanians, these (Afghans and Gakkhars) prevented them from doing any injury to the territories of Lahore. This is why it was that the incursions of the Samanians from first to last were made by way of Sind and Bhatiya. Roh is the name of a particular mountain, which extends in length from Swad and Bajaur to the town of Siwi, belonging to Bhakar. In breadth it stretches from Hasan Abdal to Kabul. Kandahar is situated in this territory.

When the throne of Ghazni came to Alptigin, his general Subuk- tigm made several attacks upon Lamghan and Multan, and carried off many prisoners. Unable to endure these attacks, the Afghans applied in their extremity to Jaipal, the Raja of Lahore, and com- plained of Subuktigin’s inroads. Jaipal was aware that the army of Hindustan could not continuously occupy those parts, in con- sequence of the extreme cold; so he consulted with the Raja of Bhatiya, and by his advice he called to his presence Shaikh Hamid, a man of great consideration among the Afghans, and raised him to the dignity of amir. Shaikh Hamid in this way obtained possession of the territory of Lamghan and Multan, and carried on the government on his own behalf. Thus, at that date the Afghans obtained an amir

of their own, and became people of importance. When Alptigin was dead, and Subuktigm had succeeded him. Shaikh Hamid thought it advisable to avoid war ; so he sent to Subuktigin a message, saying : “ You and I are both Musulmans, and so there is a bond of union between us. It will be a gracious and proper course, if you will consider my people as your own, and give instructions to your victorious forces, that when they attack the country of Hindustan, they shall do no harm to us, your well-wishers.” Subuktigin, through the exigencies of the time, agreed to their proposal. After the death of Jaipal, Subuktigin, dealing in a friendly spirit with Shaikh Hamid, conferred on him the zkta’ of Multan. Sultan Mahmud’s course of action was different from his father’s. He sub- dued the Afghan tribes, put their leaders to death, and reduced the people to a state of obedience and service.

The first work, of which the correct name is supposed to be Bahru-z ZaJcJikhdr, ‘‘the swelling sea,” comprises a general history from the beginning of the world to a.h. 997 (a.d. 1589). D’Herbelot quotes the author of the Kashfu-l Zanun as saying that this history is called by some ’Ilmu-z Zakhkhdr, “ superabundant knowledge,” and that it is the most copious history which the IMuhammadans have. Haji Khalfa says it has no known title, but that the author of Aklibdru-d Dawal mentions it under the name of Balir, and that some learned men call it, ’Ailemu-z Zdkliir fi ahwdlu-l-aiodil wauA-awdkhir, “an overflowing well in the transactions of ancients and moderns.”

It gives an account of the creation of the world, the Prophets, Syrians, Sabians, Jews, Christians, the four ancient Persian dy- nasties, the Kings of the Greeks, of the Israelites, Sultans of Egypt, the Arab tribes, Muhammad, the first four Khalifs, and those of the Ummayide and ’Abbaside dynasties, the Mamluks who ruled over S^u’ia, the several dynasties of the Saffarians, Samanians, Ghorians, Ghaznivides, Dilamites or Buwaihides, Saljukians, Khwarazm-shahis, Changiz Khan, Timur, and their descendants, the Ottoman Em- perors, and others.

The work was originally written in Arabic, and translated by the author into Turkish, and abridged by him also in that language. Hence some confusion has arisen in describing it, and a second

^ [These are -works which Sir H. M. Elliot had never met -with, but about which he has drawn information from other sources.]

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF WORKS OF THE PERIOD. 571

source of error arises from there being another author of this name, who wrote a history of Timur.

It is divided into 82 sections, each containing a different dynasty ; and, although Haji Khalfa notices that several dynasties are omitted which are mentioned in the Jalidn-drd, yet he states that he knew no work equally copious as a compendium. He therefore abstracted the greater part into his own historical work, entitled Fazlafca, but increased the number of the different dynasties to 150. He states also that the Alchbdru-d Dawal iva dsdru-l-awwal, “ the annals of dynasties and the monuments of ancient things,” in 380 folios, vTitten A.H. 1008, by Ahmad bin Yusuf bin Ahmad, is an abridg- ment of Jannabi’s history, to which the epitomator adds a little of his own, omitting at the same time many dynasties given by Jannabi.

D’Herbelot varies in giving the name of this author. Under the article “ Gianabi,” he gives it as, Abou Mohammed Mosthafa ben Seid bin Saiyd Hassan al Hosseini, and under “ TariTcJi al Gianabi,” he calls him, al Gianabi ben Seid Hassan al Eoumi. Uri gives his fuU name as, Abu Muhammed Mustafa ben al-Said al-Hasan ben al-Said Senan ben al-Said Ahmed al-Hosaini al-Hashemi al-Carshi. He died a.h. 999 (a.d. 1591).

I know of no Manuscript of this work in India, but there was a copy in Sir Gore Ouseley’s collection. The name of Bahru-l ZahliTclidr is familiar, as being the title of a ponderous work devoted to the lives of Muhammadan Saints. It is also the name of the first volume of a modem compilation, caUed Majni’aii-l Muliik.

The Arabic history exists at Oxford and St. Petersburg, and the Turkish is in the Eoyal Library of Vienna. The Bodleian has two copies, both in two volumes ; one copy is in folio, comprising 553 leaves, but there are only 76 sections included in it; another is in 4 to. comprising 880 leaves.^

^ Compare Hri, Bibl. Bodl. Codd. MSS. Or., pp. loO, 170, 173, Nicoll and Pusey, ib. pp. 590, 595 ; Fraehn, Indications Bihliograph., No. 221 ; Koehler, Eichh. Repert., vol. iv. p, 274 ; Gesch. des Osman. Reiches, vol. iv. p. 235 ; Haji Khalfa, Lex. Bibl. et Enc.,\o. ii. p. 124; Gesch. d. Gold. Horde, p. xxviii; Wien. Jahrb., no. Ixix. pp. 11, 13; Fundg. d. Or., vol. iv. p. 329, vol. vi. p. 370 ; Fleischer’s Cat., no. 80; Cat. As. Soc. Beng., p. 7 ; Mod. TTniv. Hist., vol. i. p. 120, vol. ix. p. 320 ; Gemaldesaal, Pref., p. xi.

This work is very frequently quoted by Firisbta, both in the General History, as well as in the Histories of Bengal, Sind, and Gujarat, and throughout a period extending from Mahmud of Ghazni to the accession of Akbar. It is, therefore, evidently a General History. The work is also quoted by Ghulam Basit, but probably at second hand.

In the Sahiliu-l AJclibdr, Sarup Chand quotes as one of the authorities to which he is indebted, Tdrikli-i Sadr-i Jahdn by Haji Muhammad Kandahari, in which he has confounded two names together, and rendered himself open to the suspicion of quoting works which he never saw, —a practice by no means uncommon with our modern historiogi’aphers.

I cannot learn that there is any copy of this work extant.

(See Briggs’s Firishta, vol. i. pp. 52, 408, vol. iv. pp. 48, 345, 401.)

The “Victories of the Sultans” would seem, if we may judge by the title, to be a General History. It is quoted in the preface of the TahaJcdt-i AJcbari as one of the authorities on which that history is founded.

Firishta, under the reign of Ghiyasu-d din Tughlik, quotes this anecdote from it.

“ As the King was near the hills of Tirhut, the Eaja appeared in arms, but was piu’sued into the woods. Finding his army could not penetrate them, the King alighted from his horse, called for a hatchet, and cut down one of the trees with his own hand. The troops, on seeing this, applied themselves to work with such spirit, that the forest seemed to vanish before them. They arrived at length at the fort, surrounded by seven ditches full of water, and defended by a high wall. The King invested the place, filled up the ditches, and destroyed the wall in three weeks. The Baja and

BIBLIOGEAPHICAL NOTICES OF WOEKS OF THE PEEIOD. 573

his family were taken, and great booty was obtained, and the government of Tirhut was conferred upon Ahmad Khan.”

Briggs observes in a note, “ I understand this is a compilation of little authority, and may be ranked with the Jdmru-l Hihdydt, or other collections of historical romances.”

A HISTORY of India; comprising an Introduction, twelve Sections and Supplement.

Introduction. — The sovereigns of India, from Shem, the son of Noah, to Anand Deo.

1st Sect. — The Sultans of Lahore, from Nasiru-d din Subuktigin, to Khusru, son of Khusru Shah.

2nd Sect. — Kings of Dehli, from Mu’izzu-d din Muhammad Sam to Akbar.

3rd Sect. — Kings of the Dakhin in six Chapters, treating of the Kings of Kulbarga, Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Telingana, Birar and Bidar.

Supplement. — A description of Hindustan.

Author unknown ; the work follows the same order, and so would appear to be an abridgment of Firishta.^

This is a very good general history ( in 1611 A.D., and took the compiler t author was a native of Eastern Firishta. He avows that he is a m^ of his authorities, and states that t of Hindustan is the Tdrilih-i Alfi, fi less than sixty thousand lines. "Wil this author in his notes to his trar Ghaznivide Emperors, says that the f which is in the Eoyal Library of Ber leaves, and even this is not perfect work in India, but it is quoted und€ Saidar, by Nizamu-d din Ahmad Bak of his information.^

^ This cannot be the same work, for Nizai later than 1592.

2 Journ. As. 1851, p. 147 ; Jahrbiicher^ no Horde, p. xxiv.

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