Indian Antiquary Vol 55

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 72

60
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[MARCH, 1926
* The conclusion is drawn [by the Josuits) that and lived to an honoured old age, highly appreciated the wast of concerted political action (on the part and greatly rewarded by the European military of the oontrollers of the Vijayanagar Empire) in officers for whom he worked so well. His great the face of the imminent danger to South India grandson, Mir Zynuddin, a Barrister, gives us some from the southom oxpansion of the Muhammadan extracts from the autobiography, and one cannot powers and the uncompromising spirit of provincial but wish that we had the whole of it. Any conism, rendered a Hindu empire impossible. Such temporary work by an Indian serving in the critical a refreshing analysis of the political situation is a days before the Mutiny in the Indian Armies is good commentary on the profound historic sense of value as a means of ascertaining the true causes of (the Jesuit) missionaries."
of that important event. I cannot but hope that The work under review is an olla podrida and Mr. Mir Zynuddin will find means to publish & there is no attempt made as to order in the mixture. translation of his ancestor's papers in full. So the next paper goes back to the Mackenzie The last paper in the book is Mr. A. F. M. Abdul collection of MSS. and that after it goes back again | Ali's account of the Last Will And Testament of to a Christian subject. Mr. R. Gopalan writes on Bahu Begum, wife of Shuja'u'ddaula, Nawab the historical value of the Mackenzie MSS. with Wazir of Oudh. This grand old lady lived to be special reference to the Pallava documents in the | 88, dying in 1813, and in her long life saw the decline collection. Any fresh information regarding the of the Mughal Dynasty of Delhi from Bahadur Shah Pallavas is always welcome, and it is most interest. to Shah Alam-truly an epic period for the Muham. ing to know that some of the Mackenzie MSS. can madan rulers of India. She saw immense changer throw light on the subject. Then Mr. P. J. Thoma in her entourage and finally having quarrelled with has an important article, on a Hindu Tradition her step-son, Ba'adat Ali of Oudh, she left all her on St. Thomas, in which we find his views on the property to the British Government. Such is the true attribution of the name of the king who was general historical story, but Mr. Abdul Ali's account the patron of St. Thomas in India. The Syriao gives many an interesting detail. version calls him Gudnaphar: the Greek form is The above brief summary will show how the Gondaphares. The question then is-who was Indian Historical Records Commission is doing its he? The usual identification is Gadaphars or work and how great the value of that work is. Gudaphars of the Kabul region. But Mr.
R. C. TEMPLE Thoma sets up Kandappe or Kanda Raja of South India as the person represented in the Syriac and
TE DATE OF ZOROASTER, by JABL CHARPENTIER. Greek stories. It is worth investigation.
1925. Mr. R. P. Tripathi talks about the Will of the
In this valuable little pamphlet Prof. Charpentier great Oudh administrator of Mehdi Ali Khan controverts Prof. Hertel'e viowe, as stated in his Bahadur, better known as Hakim Mehdi. The
Die Zeit Zoroasters, on the subject of Zoroaster's Will shows that this fine old man died in 1837 aged
date. Prof. Hertel's contention is that Zoroaster 94, leaving an enormous property. After this we
must have been alive in B.C. 522. This view are treated to "a few extracts" from the auto
Prof. Charpentier sharply criticises and finally fixos biography of Mir Nuruddin Khan Bahadur, Shuja the great religious reformer's dateso far as it can Jung, Aido-de-Camp to various Commanders-in
be said to be fixable-"somewhere in the neighbourChief of Madras. This gallant old soldier served
hood of B.C. 1000-900, or perhaps even earlier." 60 years (1780-1840) in the old Sopoy Army without In this opinion the present writer heartily concurs. a broak, was cognizant of many important thing
R. C. TEMPLE NOTES AND QUERIES. SEVAJEES.
General Letter to the Company, dated 21 August Some years ago I collected a few references to
1699 (0.C. 6711). the pirates of the West Coast of India known to
1703. "Hearing the Savagees were come to Suratt Europeans as Sevajoos, and sometimes even as and buming all before them they sent up a Small
| Vessell and the Country boat to attend the Generalla Savages. I now publish them as they may prove
Commands."-Bombay General Lctter to the Company useful. 1698. "The Sevajees and Singanyans are now
dated 13 February 1702-3 (F. R. Misc. vol. 6).
1703. Pats 5."10000 Sevajees a month since growne Stronge and very impudent so that Soarce
plunderd the towns about Surate and burnt them any boats can pass to and from the Island without
attempted Surattin vain but carried off a great Boate Convoys."-Abstract of & Bombay General Letter to the Company, dated 10 April 1698 (0.C. 6542).
of Jewells &ca. taken from the Flying inhabitants, 1690. “Our neighbours the Portuguez. Para. 9. "Sevagoes threaten to return and burn being obliged by the Sovajees who are continually Snratt."-Sunat Generall Letter to the Company, plundering their Townes, to keep about these parta | dated 8 March 1702-3 (F. R. Misc. vol. 5). ... about 12 or 16 small vessells of Warr."-Bombay
R. O. TEMPLE,