Throughout the whole of it Binákití follows Rashídu-d dín implicitly, copying him even with all his errors, just as Rashidu-d dín follows Bírúní. Nothing shows more completely the ignorance of the western Asiatics with respect to the state of India since Mahmúd's time than to find these two authors, 300 years afterwards, mentioning that Bárí is the capital of the province of Kanauj, of which the kings are the most potent in India, and that Thanesar is in the Dúáb. All this is taken from Abú Ríhán, as may be seen by referring to the extracts in the first volume.

It is needless to translate any passage from this work, but it may be as well to mention, as the Calcutta copy of Rashidí, as well as that of the India House, is deficient in that respect,' that the succession of the Kábul kings, who preceded the Ghaznivides, occurs in nearly the same order as in M. Reinaud's edition of Bírúní, and with nearly the same names, but the last of the Turk dynasty, whom M. Reinaud calls Laktouzemán, appears here under the more probable shape of Katorán, or Katormán, "king of the Katores," It is worthy of remark that the present chief of Chitrál is called Sháh Kator, and claims descent from the Macedonians. Kalar, the first of the Bráhman dynasty, is omitted by Binákití. Anandpál is converted into Andapál, and the nearest approach to M. Reinaud's doubtful name of Nardanjánpála (correctly perhaps Niranjanpál) is Tásdar Jaipál.3

1 [The British Museum MS., and the Arabic MS. of the Royal Asiatic Society have passages upon the subject obviously derived from Bírúní. See Thomas' Prinsep, I. 315.]

2 [See Vol. II. p. 404.]

3 Compare Morley's Cat. p. 25.

Hammer-Purgstall's Handschriften, p. 194. Recueil des Voyages, Tom. II. p. 369. Fundgruben des Orients, Tom. III. p. 330. Gesch. der Ilchane, Vol. II. p. 267. Coll. Or. Tom. I. pp. lxxxv.-ci. 424. Jahrbücher, No. 69. Anz. Blatt, p. 33, and No. 73, p. 26. Gesch. d. schön. Red. Pers. p. 241. Elphinstone, Kingdom of Cabul, App. C. p. 619. Burnes' Bokhara, Vol. II. p. 209. Journ. R. A. S. Vol. IX. p. 194. C. Ritter, Erd. von A8. Vol. V. p. 207. Gemäldesaal der Lebensb. Vol. IV. p. 35. Zenker, Bibliotheca Or. 857, 858. Gesch. d. G. Horde, pp. xxxi. 343. Jenisch, Hist. priorum Regum Persarum. p. 142.

EXTRACT.

[The following is translated from a MS. in the library of the Royal Asiatic Society :

"After (him) Arjún became king; after him Kank, who was the last of the Katormán kings; after him Bráhma Sámand became king; after him Kamlú; after him Jaipál; after him Andah pál; and after him Tadar Jaipál,' who was killed 412 Hijrí (1021 a.D.).”

60

XIII.

TARIKH-I GUZIDA.

OF

HAMDU-LLA MUSTAUFI.

This work was composed in A.H. 730 (1329) by Hamdu-lla bin Abu Bakr bin Hamd bin Nasr Mustaufi1 Kazwíní, and was dedicated to the minister Ghiyásu-d dín, the son of Rashídu-d dín, to both of whom our author had been secretary.

It ranks among the best general histories of the East. Reinaud used it for his Mem. sur l'Inde. Hammer-Purgstall calls it in different passages of his works the best, the most faithful, and the most brilliant of all the histories which were composed about that period. He remarks that it contains much matter not found elsewhere, and concurs in the praise bestowed upon it by Hájí Khalfa, that implicit confidence is to be placed in its assertions. It is a pity, therefore, that the work is in so abridged a form as to be more useful for its dates than for its details of facts. The authors of the Universal History frequently quote it under the name of "Tarik Cozidih."

Eleven years after the completion of this history, the author composed his celebrated work on Geography and Natural History, entitled Nuzhatu-l Kulüb, "the delight of hearts," which is in high repute with oriental scholars.2

1 "President of the Exchequer." Com. le Brun says the Mustaufi is chief of the Chamber of Accounts of the Lordships which particularly belong to his Majesty. Price (II. 360) calls him controller or auditor of the Exchequer. In the case of our author the title appears to be a family designation, derived from actual occupation of the office by an ancestor. The title Kazwíní is derived from his native town Kazwín. 2 [See Reinaud's Aboulfeda Int. clv.]

The author states that he had undertaken to write in verse an universal history from the time of Muhammad, and had already written five or six thousand lines, and hoped to complete it in seventy-five thousand; but being anxious to bring out a work in prose also, in order that he might have the satisfaction of presenting it as soon as possible to his excellent patron Ghiyásu-d dín, whose praises extend throughout two pages, he compiled the present work under the name of Tárikh-i Guzida, "Selected History," having abstracted it from twenty four different works, of which he gives the names, and amongst them, the history of Tabarí, the Kámilu-t Tawáríkh of Ibnu-l Asír Jazarí, the Nizámu-t Tawarikh of Baizáwí, the Zubdatu-t Tawarikh of Jamálu-d dín Káshí, and the Jahán-kushái of Juwainí. Besides these twenty-four, he quotes occasionally several other valuable works, many of which are now quite unknown. In its turn the Tárikh-i Guzida has been used by later writers. The Habibu-8 Siyar quotes largely from it.

The Tarikh-i Guzida contains a Preface, six Books, and an Appendix. The only Books useful for the illustration of Indian history are the third and fourth, in which are comprised the account of the early attempts of the Arabs on the Indian frontier and the history of the Ghaznivide and Ghorian monarchs.

[A portion of the work, comprising the history of the Saljukian dynasty, has been translated by M. Defrémery, and published in the Journal Asiatique;1 and another portion, relating to the city of Kazwín, has also been translated by the same writer.2]

CONTENTS.

The Preface contains an account of the creation of the world; from p. 1 to p. 8.

Book I.-An account of the Patriarchs, Prophets, and Philosophers; in two sections and two subsections ;-from p. 8 to 67. Book II.-The Peshdádians, Kaiánians, Ashkánians (Arsacidæ

1

1 [Vols. XI., XII., XIII. Quat., Serie.]

2 [Ib. 5 Serie. Tome X.]

and Mulúk-i Tawáif) and Sássánians; in four sections;-from p. 68 to 109.

Book III.-Muhammad, the Khalifas and Imáms; in an introduction and six sections ;-from p. 109 to 311.

Book IV. The eastern monarchies, from the beginning of Muhammadanism to A.H. 730 (A.D. 1329); in twelve sections and several subsections, devoted to the following Dynasties:Bani Láis Saffár, Sámánians, Ghaznivides, Ghorians, Búwaihides or Dyálima, Saljúkians, Khwarizmians, Atábaks (2 sections), Ismáilians, Karákhitáis, and Mughals;-from p. 311 to 477.

Book V.-The Saints and Elders of the Muhammadan faith, Philosophers and Poets; in six sections ;-from p. 477 to 557.

Book VI.-An account of the author's native place, Kazwín, and its celebrated characters; in eight sections ;-from p. 557 to 603.

The Appendix contains Genealogical Trees of Prophets, Princes, Philosophers and others;-from p. 603 to 618.

SIZE. 8vo. containing 618 pages of 14 lines.

This history, though often quoted by oriental writers, is rare in India. The best copy I know is in the library of the Bengal Asiatic Society, No. 493, but it is unfortunately defective both in the beginning and end. Yár 'Alí Khán, chief native Judge of. Jaunpúr, has a good copy, and there is one also in the king of Lucknow's library. Robert Cust, Esq. (B.C.S.), has an admirable copy, written in 864 A.H. In Europe the most celebrated are those of Stockholm, Paris, the British Museum, the Bodleian Library, Hammer-Purgstall, and Sir W. Ouseley.1 M. Quatremére also possessed two copies.

A work in so abridged a form can scarcely be expected to

1 See Haji Khalfa, IV. 176, VI. 7. p. 31. Briggs' Ferishta, Vol. I. p. 1. Gold. Horde, pp. xvi. xxii. Coll. Or. pp. 268, 320. Gesch. d. Sch. Red. Pers. p. 12. Journ. Asiatique, III. Ser. Tom. I. p. 581. M. Petis de la Croix, Hist. de Genghiz Can, p. 541. D'Herbelot, Bibl. Or. Art. Tárikh Khozideh. Biog. Univ. v. Kazwyny. Rampoldi, ix. 322. Gemäldesaal Pref. xi. Ouseley's Jehanara, p. xi. Price, Mahom. Hist. I. 464, II. 638, 672. Shajrat al Atrak, 303. Gildemeister, p. 2. Journ. des Sav., 1851, p. 47.

Wiener Jahrbb. No. Ixix. p. 10, and Anzgbl. Fundgr. d. Or. Vol. III. p. 331. Gesch. der Tom. I. p. liv. Gesch. der Ilchane, Vol. II.