86 Notes on Sirajuddaulah and the tovm of Murshiddbdd. [No. 2, 



" Although this contemptible gift resembles the present of the ant 

 that brought the leg of a locust to Sulaiman (blessings be upon him !), 

 or the drop of water which a cloud carried towards the ocean of 

 'Oman — yet insignificant people in their heart's anguish have hoped, 

 and hope still, that it will find a place of acceptance with those who 

 shed their lustre over sceptre and crown. 



It's but a locust's leg which I can bring, 

 act like Sulaiman, most noble king ! 

 My only object and my highest aim 

 Is that this gift may your acceptance claim. 



I have given to this book the title of Tdrikh i Mancuri." 



The book itself is a compilation made from Farishtah, the Siyar i 

 Mutaakharin, the Riyasz ussalatin, &c, but it contains also some 

 original matter obtained from the inhabitants of Murshidabad. I have 

 extracted the greater part, at least the more important items, of that 

 which is new, and have added some extracts regarding the celebration 

 of the Muharram in Murshidabad and a short description of the raft 

 of Khiszr. 



As the author has used Vansittart's memoirs for the events after 

 the death of Sirajuddaulah, it would be useless to give extracts. Nor 

 are the other chapters of the book of much interest. The author 

 commences with Noah and the kings of the descendants of Ham, 

 from whom the Hindoos originated, and then gives a short account 

 of the kings of Delhi. A short geographical sketch of Bengal, 

 Bahar and Orissa follows, as also a chronicle of Murshidabad. After 

 mentioning the Hindoo princes who reigned in Bengal, he gives 

 a brief history of the Governors and Nawabs of Bengal up to 

 Sirajuddaulah. The last chapters contain a list of the Nawab Nazims 

 from Mir Muhammad Ja'far to the present time, and of their children 

 and servants ; a description of their palace and the houses which 

 they built, and of those which are now in ruins from want of 

 repairs ; and also some notes regarding their genealogy which is 

 traced to Husain — subjects of interest for the Nawabs only. 



Those who feel a particular interest in the following extracts, 

 may compare them with Orme's History of the Military Transac- 

 tions of the British, Vol. II, p. 139, Mill's British India (3rd edit.) 

 Vol. Ill, p. 160, and Thornton's British India, Vol. I, p. 218. 



