XXX. Lubbu-t Tawarikh, of Yahya bin 'Abdu-l Latíf- XXXII. Táríkh-i Sher Sháhí; or, Tuhfat-i Akbar Sháhí, of ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA. Page 99, to note 2, add, “and Yule's edition, vol. ii. p. 320.” ,, 109, last line, for "kichú" read "kichrí." HISTORIANS OF INDIA. XX. TARIKH-I HAFIZ ABRU. Núru-d dín bin Lutfu-llah, better known as Háfiz Abrú, was born in the city of Hirát, but passed his infancy and youth in Hamadán, where he received his education. He attained by his writings a distinguished rank among contemporary authors, and was fortunate enough to secure the esteem of Tímúr, who gave him numerous proofs of his consideration, admitted him to his intimacy, and sought every occasion of doing him service. After the death of that tyrant, he attended the court of Shah Rukh, and received from the young prince Mirzá Baisanghár every demonstration of kindness and regard. To him he dedicated his great work, under the name of Zubdatu-t Tawarikh Baisanghári, which contains a complete history of the world, and an account of the institutions and religions of different people down to A.H. 8291 (A.D. 1425). The author died five years afterwards 1 Sir W. Ouseley, as editor of the "Critical Essay on various Manuscript Works," says that he has examined a copy of this History dated A.H. 817. He also observes that as Hafiz Abrú had travelled in many parts of Asia, his geographical statements, which are numerous, are well worthy of consideration. The Vienna Jahrbücher says, the history is carried down to A.H. 825. See Sadik Isfahani's Chron. Tab. A. 829. [It could not have been written earlier, for the table of contents shows that it extended beyond 820 H., and it quotes the Zafar-náma, which was written in 827 H.] VOL. 1V. 1 in the city of Zanján. A short notice is given of him in the Tárikh-i Chaghatár. The work is more generally known as Tárikh-i Háfiz Abrú, and under that name it is quoted by Haidar Rází, Mírkhond, Khondamír, and the Tárikh-i Alfi, and by Abú-l Fazl in the Ayin-i Akbari as a fabulist. D'Herbelot refers to it, and Sir W. Ouseley frequently quotes it in his Travels as abounding in geographical details. I have never seen the work, nor am I aware that a copy exists in India, but it is frequently quoted as an authority on subjects connected with Indian History. The only copies in Europe which are spoken of are those in the Imperial Library of St. Petersburgh, and in Sir Gore Ouseley's Collection. [Sir H. Elliot subsequently had access to a copy of this work belonging to Mr. John Bardoe Elliot, and among his MSS. there is a volume containing extracts copied from it by a munshí at Patna. These extracts comprise the introductory part of the work and the portions relating to the history of Kirmán. From this volume the following synopsis of the Contents and the Extracts have been translated. A large portion of the work is confessedly borrowed without alteration or addition from older historians, from Tabarí, Rashídu-d dín, and the Zafar-náma. The table of Contents gives no clue as to the extent and value of the part devoted to India, but the work is so frequently quoted by later writers that the Indian portion would seem to be original and of some length. The Extract is a specimen of the author's method, and will afford the means of forming a judgment as to his worth as a geographer.] 1 For its position see Index to Wilken's Historia Samanidarum, p. 222, v. Zendschan. 2 Compare Coll. Or. Tom I. p. ciii., and II. p. lv. Wilken, Histor. Ghaznevidarum, pp. xiv., 212, 227, 244. Gesch. d. Gold. Horde, pp. xvi. and xxii. Wien Jahrb. No. lxxiii. pp. 21, 25. D'Herbelot, Bibl. Or. Tom. III. p. 426. Critical Essay, p. 34. Mirkhond, Rauzatu-s-Safá, Vol. I. p. 8. Fraehn, Indications Bibliographiques, No. 188. Gosche's Berlin Extracts from Haidar Rází. Dorn's Geschichte Tabaristans. Haji Khalfa II. 124, III. 535. Journ. des Sav., Jan. 1847. [CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. Form of the earth.-The Creation.-Division into Climes.The equator.-Oceans.-Seas.-Rivers.-Mountains.-Countries of Arabia.-Countries of the West.-Cities of the West.Distances in the Countries of the West.-Andalusia.-Islands of Rúm and the Ocean.-Countries of Egypt.-Holy Temples.— Armenia and Syria.- Frangistán. -Mesopotamia.—'Irák. Khúzistán.-Fárs and its provinces: Persepolis; Territories of Dárábjard, Ardashír, Shahpúr, and Kubád.-Islands, Rivers, Seas, Valleys, Forts, and Distances of Fárs.-Kings and Rulers of Fárs, Dílamites, Saljúks, Atábaks, Nobles of Changíz Khán, Rulers after Abú Sa'íd. - Kirmán. - Rulers of Kirmán. — Abíward.-Countries of Khurásán.-Rulers of Khurásán.-The Ummayides. Preface, with a Map. Volume I.-Preface.-Reasons for writing the history; Definition of history; Nature of the science, benefits of history.List of the subjects treated of in the 469 sections of this work founded on the work of Muhammad bin Tabarí, from the Creation down to the Khálífa Muktafi bi-llah.-The remainder of the 'Abbáside Khálífas from the Jámi'u-t Tawarikh. The histories extracted from the Jámi'u-t Tawarikh are comprised in two volumes. The first containing the Tarikh-i Gházán is divided into two Bábs. The first Báb contains four sections, and the second two sections, comprising the history of the various Turk and Mughal princes, and of Changíz Khán and his successors, down to Uljáítú Sultán Muhammad Khudábanda. The second Báb comprises the history of the Ghaznivides, Dílamites, Buwaihides, Saljúks, Khwárizmsháhís, Shalgházis of Fárs, Ism'aílís in two chapters, Ughúz and the Turks, Khatai, Children of Israel, Franks, Indians. History of the kings who reigned in Tabríz, Baghdád, and those parts from the year 705 A.H., which closes the history of Rashidi, as the events are related in the Zafar-náma and the |