294 H. Blochmann — History and Geography of Bengal. — No. III. [No. 3, 



worlds, the representative of God in all lands, the king, the son of a king who was the 

 son of a king, Shams uddunya waddin Abul Muzaffar Yusuf Shah, 

 the king, son ofBar'bak Shah the king, son ofMahmud Shah the king — may 

 God perpetuate his kingdom and his rule and elevate his condition and dignity ! — 



by the Malik the great Lord, the hero of the period and the age Dated 



in the year 885 [A. D. 1480]. 



God's mercy reaches every moment the soul of a man whose pious works continue 

 after him. [From Sa'di's Bostan.] 



In conclusion I shall give a few inscriptions (the only ones that have 

 hitherto been found) belonging to the Afghan period of Bengal History 

 (944 to 984, H., or 1538 to 1576, A. D.). 



III. 



The third, or Afgha'jst, Period oe the Mtthammadait 

 History of Bengal (1538 to 1578, A. D.). 

 The historical information which we possess of the Afghan period is 

 meagre, and refers almost exclusively to matters connected with the Dihli 

 empire, but does not, like the history of the preceding period, conflict with 

 mural and medallic testimony. The following is an outline of the principal 

 events of the period. 



944, 6th Zil Qa'dah, or 6th April, 1538, Gaur taken by Khawac, Khan (II). 

 Mahmud Shah (III) of Bengal flees to Humayun, who has just 



conquered Fort Chanar.* 

 Humayun marches to Bengal, and Sher Khan's generals leave Gaur 



unprotected. 

 Rise of the kingdom of Kuch Bihar under Bisa. 

 945 Humayun for three months in Gaur. Mahmud Shah of Bengal dies 

 at Khalgaon (Colgong). Humayun leaves Gaur before the rains had 



ended (about September 1538). 

 He leaves Jahangir Quli Beg as governor of Bengal in Gaur. 

 Khawac Khan operates against Maharta, the Chero chief of Palamau. 

 946, 9th Cafar, or 26th June, 1539. Battle of Chaunsa.f Humayun 

 defeated by Sher Khan, who celebrates his jul-ks, assumes the name of 

 Fari'duddi'n Abul Muzaffar Sher Slia'h, and issues coins. 

 Jahangir Quli Khan defeated by Jalal Khan and Haji Khan Batni, 

 and soon after killed. 

 Khizr Khan appointed by Sher Shah governor of Bengal. 



* The siege of Chanar is said to have commenced on the 15th Sha'ban 944, or 8th 

 January, 1538. According to the Tdrikh i Sher Shdhi (Dowson, IV, 359), Gaur fell 

 after the taking of Chanar. If the siege lasted six months, the 15th Sha'ban, 944 is 

 too late a date. The year 945 commenced on 30th May, 1538. 



f The river between Chaunsa and Baksar, on the right bank of which Sher Khan 

 had encamped, is called Thora Nadi. 



