HISTORIANS.

I.-Mujmalu-t Tawáríkh-Sir H. M. E. and the Editor.

II.-Biládurí—Sir H. M. E. and the Editor.

III.-Chach-náma—A munshi, revised by the Editor.

IV.-Ma'súmí-Page 237 to 240 by Sir H. M. E., all the rest by Editor.

V.-Táríkh-i Táhirí-Lt. Perkins.1

VI.-Beg-Lár-náma

VII. Tarkhán-náma

}

A munshi, revised by the Editor.

VIII.-Tuhfatu-l Kirám-Anonymous, but revised by the Editor and found to be accurate.

Appendix.-Sir H. M. E., excepting where brackets show the

III.—Baihakí—From page 61 to 129 by a munshi, and although said to have been revised, it required very extensive correction by the Editor; page 129 to 154 by Sir H. M. E. IV.-Jámi'u-l Hikáyát-A munshi, whose style had been improved by an Englishman, but the translation needed a thorough revision by the Editor.

V.-Nizámu-t Tawáríkh- Sir H. M. E.

VI.-Kámilu-t Tawáríkh-Editor.

VII.-Táju-1 Ma-ásir-Sir H. M. E.

VIII.-Tabakát-i Násirí-Page 266 to 359, a munshi, revised and sundry long gaps filled up by the Editor; page 360 to 3832 by the Editor.

IX.-Jahán-Kushá-Sir H. M. E.

1 This translation bore no name, but the Editor has reason for believing it to be, the work of Lt. Perkins. It was checked by the Editor and found to be very correct.

2 Translations of this and of sundry other portions of the Tabakát-i Násirí had been made by an English officer; but the Editor, with every desire to make use of them and save himself labour, was obliged to reject them. Prefixed to the translations were the following notes, the later one written after Sir H. M. Elliot's death. These of themselves will show that no harsh judgment has been exercised :—

"This translation is imperfect. By allowing myself great latitude in guessing at the author's meaning, supplying words, sometimes whole passages, I have succeeded in making it appear a somewhat connected narrative. Had I marked in the margin

APPENDIX.

The various Notes are the work of Sir H. M. Elliot, excepting where the brackets show the Editor's additions, or special references are made to the sources of information, as in Notes B. and E. Note C.-The translations of the extracts were made by munshis, and have been revised by the Editor.

Note F.-Majma'i Wasáyá-A munshi, unrevised.

Nigáristán,

Zínatu-1 Majális, A munshi, revised by the Editor.

Note G.-Mir-át-i Mas'údí-Translated by R. B. Chapman, Esq., B.C.S. Note H.-Extracts translated by Sir H. M. E.

all the passages which were doubtful, I find I should have to mark the whole translation almost; I have therefore only marked those which are more especially obscure, and when the meaning appeared to be of more than usual importance.

"N.B.-This translation was done and the remarks in the margin made under the impression that it would be looked over by Sir H. M. Elliot."

PORTRAIT.

The Portrait prefixed to this volume has been copied from a sketch made by an amateur on the occasion of one of Lord Dalhousie's official receptions. As chance would have it, this is the only likeness of Sir Henry Elliot extant, otherwise, neither the formal costume nor the profile face would have recommended themselves as best calculated to convey an effective representation of the author.

ERRATA.

Page 76, line 3 from the bottom, substitute "Manjurán" for "the winedrinkers (mai-khurán)."—A subsequent passage shows the true reading.

Page 129.-For "July, 1033" read "July, 1034."

157.-For "(This last contains only) the first two kisms," substitute 66 - part of the first kism as far as Chapter 25, where it ends abruptly."

204.-For No. "IV." read "V."

249.-To note add, "See Vol. I. p. 445."

276. In note 2, for "words" read "word."

485.-For Appendix “E” read “F.”

HISTORIANS OF INDIA.

I.

TARIKHU-L HIND

OF

ABU RIHAN AL BIRUNI.

ABU RÍHÁN1 MUHAMMAD BIN AHMAD AL BÍRÚNÍ AL KHWÁRIZMÍ, was born about A.H. 360, A.D. 970-1.

He was an

astronomer, geometrician, historian, and logician. He was so

1 Raihan would be more correct, according to the Kámús. In Brigg's Firishta (p. 113), the name is strangely perverted into "Anvury Khán."

2 The place of his birth is disputed. His earliest biographer is Shahrazúrí, who, in his Tawáríkh-i Hukamá, written shortly after Bírúní's death, says that he was born at Bírún, in Sind, "a beautiful city full of excellent and marvellous things." He has been followed by Hájí Khalfa, by Ibn Abú Ussaibiah, and by Abú-l Fidá, on the authority of Ibn Sa'id. M. Reinaud also states that he was a Sindian. Yet, where is this city of Bírún in Sind? There is a Nírún, or Nírún Kot, near the site of the present city of Haidarábád, corresponding in position with the Bírún indicated by Abú-l Fidá, which probably has had it first letter altered by a transposition of the vowel point. But M. Reinaud (p. 195) is distinct in condemning Capt. McMurdo and other English writers who, following Idrísí, read Nírún for Bírún. Abú-1 Fida's reading cannot be disputed, for he not only gives, but describes the nature of, the diacritical point, and all that can be said against him is that he never was in India, and that he derived his information from others. (See Vol. I. Appx. p. 396.) In the Kitábu-l Ansab by Sam'ání, a book of very great authority, written A.H. 562, A.D. 1166, Bírúní is derived from the Persian, and made to apply to any one born out of Khwarizm. Some authorities distinctly assert that he was born at Bírún, a town of Khwarizm, but I know not if the existence of such a town has been established. Bírúní in his Indian Geography takes little notice of Sind, and says nothing of his birthplace. [The passage quoted from the "Quarterly Review," (infra p. 3) seems to decide the question, for Bírúní is there said to be a native of Khwarizm, and the whole tenor of the article confirms the statement.]

VOL. II.

1