had become firmly implanted in the minds of Mirzá Muhammad Shafi' Khán and Muhammad Beg Khán Hamadání,-who had been the chief officers of State to the late Amiru-l umará Mirzá Najaf Khán Bahádur, and after his death had been partners in the government of the province of Agra,-owing to their each craving after an increase of power and dignity, which is ever a hindrance to the existence of friendship and good feeling among equals and contemporaries. At last, Muhammad Beg Khán Hamadání seized the opportunity, during an interview, of putting Muhammad Shafi' Khán to death; and on this account, Afrásiyáb Khán, who was the Imperial Mir-i átish, and one of Amíru-l umará Mirzá Najaf Khán Bahádur's protegés, becoming alarmed, demanded succour of Mahájí Sindhia Bahádur. The latter had firmly resolved in his mind on repairing to the sublime threshold, but had not yet fulfilled the duty of paying his respects, when, under the influence of Sindhia Bahádur's destiny, Afrásiyáb Khán was killed by the hand of an assassin.

Sindhia Bahadur's army having overshadowed the metropolis by its arrival, he brought Muhammad Beg Khán Hamadání, after a siege, completely under his subjection, and in the year 1199 A.H. traversed the streets of the metropolis. When he obtained the good fortune of saluting the threshold

of

His Majesty, the shadow of God, the Emperor Shah Alam, he was loaded with princely favours, and distinguished by royal marks of regard, so that he became the chief of the supporters of government, and His Majesty's most staunch and influential adherent.

As Mádhú Ráo, the Peshwá Sáhib, at the present auspicious period, pursues, in contradistinction to his uncle, the path of obedience to the monarch of Islám, and Mahájí Sindhia Bahadur is one of those who are constantly attached to the evertriumphant train, hence it happens that the plant of this nation's prosperity has struck root firmly into the earth of good fortune, and their affairs flourish agreeably to their wishes.

CXXII.

LUBBU-S SIYAR

OF

ABU TALIB LONDONľ.

THIS is a very useful little manual of general history, compiled in 1208 A.H. (1793-4 A.D.), by Mírzá Abú Muhammad Tabrízí Isfahání, and being carried down to modern times, embraces an account of Europe and America.

The author is usually known in India as Abú Tálib Londoní, from his voyage to and adventures in England and Europe, an amusing account of which was written by him on his return in 1803, and is well known to the European world by the translation of Major Stewart.

In the Preface to this work he tells us that he had collected several works of history and travel, and had often perused them, but found amongst them none that contained a history of the whole world; he therefore thought that he would himself supply this deficiency, but had no leisure to effect his object till the year above mentioned, when he finished his Abstract. He declares his intention, if he lives long enough, of enlarging his work, and hopes that some one else, if he fails to do it, will undertake this useful labour, "because he has mentioned all the occurrences of the world, old and new, and given a connected account of the Prophets, Khalifs, Sultáns, and celebrated men, from the beginning to the present time.”

He quotes the various authorities he used, and besides others of common note, he mentions a history of the Kings of India compiled by himself, and a compendious account of the kingdoms of Europe and America, translated by some English gentleman from his own tongue," which in truth contains very many new matters." This is no doubt the work of Jonathan Scott. He says that his own history is an abstract of some thousands of

books, and therefore he has entitled it Lubbu-s Siyar wa Jahannumá, “The Essence of Biographies, and the World-Reflecting Mirror."

The author was the son of Hájí Muhammad Khán, a Turk of Azarbáíján, who was born and bred in Isfahan, and was the first of the family who came to Hindústán, where he was inrolled amongst the followers of Nawáb Safdar Jang, the wazir. The father is called by another name in the Preface of this work, and in the Miftahu-t Tawárikh he is styled Muhammad Beg Khán.

Mírzá Abú Tálib was born at Lucknow, and was employed in posts of high emolument under Nawabs Shujá'u-d daula and Asafu-d daula. In the time of the latter he lost his office, and came to seek his subsistence from the English. By them he was hospitably entertained, and induced to visit Europe in 1799. He died and was buried at Lucknow in the year 1220 A.H. (1805 A.D.), as we learn from two chronograms composed by Mr. Beale at the request of Mírzá Yúsuf Bákir, the deceased's son, which are given at p. 564 of the Miftahu-t Tawáríkh.

Besides the Lubbu-s Siyar, he wrote several other treatises, a Biography of the Poets, ancient and modern, and "himself indulged in versification, especially on the subject of the females of England, who aspire to equality with the Angels of Paradise, and he was always expatiating on the heart-ravishing strains of the women of that country, who used to sing at the public assemblies."1

CONTENTS.

Preface, p. 1-Book I. On the Prophets, p. 2-II. On the events of the Khalifate, in seven chapters-Chap. i. The first four Khalífs, p. 9—ii. The Imáms, p. 11-iii. The Ummayides, p. 12-iv. The 'Abbásides and their branches, p. 15-v. The Isma'ílians and their branches, p. 17-vi. The Saiyids, p. 19— vii. The Sharífs, p. 20-III. Biographies, in seven chapters— Chap. i. The Philosophers of Greece, Europe, India and Persia, and the moderns, p. 20-ii. The companions of the Prophet, p. 1 Zubdatu-l Ghardib, 5th volume, v. Tálib.

30-iii. The disciples, p. 31-iv. The religious teachers, p. 32 -v. The learned men of Islám, p. 34-vi. The celebrated Poets, p. 37-vii. Other celebrated men of Islám, p. 38—IV. On the Sultáns, in a Preface and eight Chapters-Preface on the climates, imaginary and real, and the old and new world, p. 39— Chap. i. The Sultáns of Irán, including the Ghaznívides, Saljúks, Ghorians, etc., p. 45-ii. The Sultáns of Arabia, p. 68 -iii. The Sultáns of Rúm, p. 73-iv. The Rulers of Egypt and Syria, p. 76-v. The Kings of the West, p. 82-vi. The Sultáns of Turkistán, p. 87-vii. The Kings of Europe, p. 101 -viii. The Rulers of Hindústán, including the Hindú Rájas, the Kings of Dehlí, of the Dakhin, Kashmír, and other independent kingdoms, p. 109.

This work is common in India. The best copy I have seen is in the possession of Razíu-d dín Sadr-s Sudúr of Aligarh.

SIZE-Folio, 131 pages, each comprising 23 lines, closely

written.

CXXIII.

AUSAF-I ASAF.

AN historical sketch of the royal family of Oudh, written A.D. 1795. It is a useful work, containing also an account of contemporary princes.

SIZE-Large 8vo., 114 pages.

CXXIV.

TARIKH

OF

JUGAL KISHWAR.

THIS is a general history of India, by Júgal Kishwar, from the time of Humáyún to Sháh 'Alam. It is of no value, at least in the passages which I have examined. [Sir H. M. Elliot's library does not contain a copy of this work.]

CXXV.

GULISTAN-I RAHMAT

OF

NAWAB MUSTAJAB KHAN.

THIS is a history of the Rohilla Afgháns, and a life of Háfiz Rahmat Khán, written by his son Nawáb Mustajáb Khán Bahadur. The work has been abridged and translated by Mr. Charles Elliott. I have seen several histories of the Rohillas, but know none superior to this except the Gul-i Rahmat noticed in the next article.

The translator observes in his Introduction, "In the original many trivial occurrences are noticed which I have altogether omitted; and the repeated encomiums lavished by the Nawab upon the generosity and intrepidity of his lamented parent, though honourable to his feelings as a son, would be deemed extravagant by the majority of readers, and indeed would scarcely admit of translation. A residence of many years in Rohilkhand, where the memory of Háfiz Rahmat Khán is held in the highest veneration, may perhaps have led me to attach a greater degree of importance to the work than it merits; but as Háfiz acted a distinguished part on the theatre of India for thirty years, and was personally engaged in every great action fought during that time, his life may furnish some materials to aid in the compilation of a history of that period; and with this view, I have taken considerable pains to correct some chronological errors in the original."

"It is necessary to add that Mr. Hamilton's History of the Rohillas will in some parts be found at variance with this narrative that gentleman appears to have derived his information from the friends of the Nawáb of Oudh, who would not be disposed to speak favourably of Háfiz Rahmat Khán, and as that work was published about the time of Mr. Hastings' trial, it might have been intended to frame an excuse for his permitting a British army to join on the attack in 1774 A.H."