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ASIATIC SOCIETIES.
MAY, 1874.]
gal, i. e., from A. D. 1203 to 1538. Nizamuddin Ahmad, who served Akbar as Bakhshi, the friend and protector of the historian Badâoni, is the first writer that gives in his Tabaqát-i-Akbart, which were completed in 1590, a short connected account of the independent kings of Bengal from 1338 to 1538. For the time between 1203 and 1338 we depend on incidental remarks made by Dihli writers, as Minhaj-i-Sirâj, Barani, and 'Afif. Firishtah, who flourished in the beginning of the 17th century, has a chapter on the same period as Nizâm; but, though he gives a little more, it seems that he used the same, at present unknown, source as the author of the Tabaqát-i-Akbari. But there can be no doubt that this source was a work defective in chronology and meagre in details. Firishtah also cites a historical compilation by one Haji Muhammad of Qandahår, of which no copy is at present known to exist.
"The latest writer on Bengal History is Ghulam Husain of Zaidpûr, poetically styled 'Salim,' who composed his Riyáz ussalatin, or the Gardens of Kings,' at the request of Mr. George Udney of Maldah. This work, the title of which contains in the numerical value of the letters the date of its completion (A. H. 1202, or A. D. 1787-88), is rare but is much prized as being the fullest account in Persian of the Muhammadan History of Bengal, which the author brings down to his own time. From a comparison of his work with that by Firishtah, it is evident that for the early portion he has used books which are likewise unknown at present, and it is unfortunate that his preface gives no information on this point. His additional source, it is true, cannot have been a work of considerable size; yet he gives valuable dates, waich, as will be seen below, are often confirmed by collateral evidence. Salim has also made a fair use of the antiquities of the Gaur District. Stewart, who used the Riyáz as the basis of his History of Bengal, has given a translation of the greater part of the work; but, from a leaning Firishtah, he has left out useful passages."
On the Geography he says-" Before the conquest of Bengal by the Muhammadans under
"The end contains the following description of the character of the 'new rulers' :
"The English among the Christians are adorned with the head-dress of wisdom and skill, and ornamented with the garb of generosity and good manners. In resolution, activity in war, and in festivities, in administering justice and helping the oppressed, they are unrivalled; and their truthfulness is so great that they would not break a promise should they even lose their lives. They admit no liar to their society, are pious, faithful, pitiful, and honourable. They have neither learnt the letters of deceit, nor have they read the page of vice; and though their religion is opposed to ours, they do not interfere with the religion, rites, and propagation of the Muhammadan faith.
گفتگوی کار و دان آخر بیچا میکشد
145
"It would be wrong to believe that Bakhtyâr Khilji conquered the whole of Bengal: he merely took possession of the south-eastern parts of Mithila, Barendra, the northern portions of Radha, and the north-western tracts of Bagdi. This conquered territory received from its capital the name of Lak'h nauti, and its extent is described by the author of the Tabagút-i-Násirí, who says that the country of Lak'hnauti lies on both sides of the Ganges and consists of two wings: the eastern one is called Barendra, to which Deokot belongs; and the western has the name of Rål [i.e., Rådha], to which Lak'hnûr belongs. Hence the same writer also distinguishes Lak❜hnauti-Deokot from Lak'hnauti-Lak'hnûr. From the town of Lak'hnauti to Deokot on the one side, and from Lak'hnauti to the door of Lak'hnûr, on the other side, an embanked road (pul) passes, ten days' march. Distinct from the country of Lak'hnauti is Banga (diyár-i-Bang, Bangadesh, Tabaqát, p. 267), and in this part of Bengal the descendants of the Lak'hmaniyah kings of Nadiyå still reigned in A. H. 658) or 1260 A. D., when Minhaj-iSirâj, the author of the Tabaqát, wrote his history. Deokot, which still gives name to a large parganab, was correctly identified by Buchanan with the old fort near Damdamâ, on the left bank of the Parnabhaba, south of Dinâjpûr. Close to it lies Gangarâmpûr with its ruins, and the oldest Muhammadan inscription known in Bengal. Lak'hnûr, the town or thanah' of the other towing,' has not yet been identified."
"Minhaj's remark that Banga was, in 1260, still in the hands of Lak'hman Sen's descendants, is confirmed by the fact that Sunnârgåon is not
Bakhtyar Khilji, in A. D. 1203, Bengal is said to have been divided into five districts-(1) Radha, the country west of the Hugli and south of the Ganges; (2) Bagdi, the delta of the Ganges; (3) Banga, the country to the east of, and beyond, the delta; (4) Barendra, the country to the north of the Padma (Podda) and between the Karatayâ and the Mahanandâ rivers; and (5) Mithila, the country west of the Mahanandâ."
خواب يك خواب است با شد مختلف تعبيرها
"All wrangling about faith and heresy leads to the same place: the dream is one and the same dream, thou, the interpretations may differ.'"
"Major Raverty, of whose translation of the Tabaqát two fasciculi have just appeared, informs me that all his Lak'hnür. The Bibliotheca Indica
best MSS. have
and it was no : لكور and often also لکهنور edition has
doubt, the last spelling that led Stewart to substitute Nagor (in Western Birbhum), which certainly lies in the direction indicated. Outside of the Maratha wall of Någor, we have a Lak'hipûr and a Lak'hînârâyanpur."
