1860.] Proceedings of the Asicttic Society. 409 



fessor of Philosophy in the Calcutta Sanskrit College, has offered to 

 edit the work, with a short additional Commentary of his own, which 

 is not to exceed one fasciculus. The whole work will fill about four 

 fasciculi. A similar oífer having been previously received from an- 

 other Pundit in the same Institution, Pundit Nandakumar Tarka_ 

 ratna, the Committee recommended that the two Pundits should 

 unite in editing the work. This they have agreed to do, and it will 

 therefore appear under their joint editorship. 



The report was adopted. 



Mr. Cowell announced the publication in the Bibliotlieca Indica 

 of the first fasciculus ofZíáBarní's Táríkhi Ferozsháhi. A short 

 account of the work was also given, as it appeared that the details 

 communicated at a former Meeting of the Society were incorrect. 



Zíá Barní compiled his history in A. H. 758 (A. D. 1357,) in con- 

 tinuation of the Tabakáti Násirí of Minhájuddin Juzjáni. It 

 gives an account of the eight reigns during the 95 years between 

 Bulbun's accession in A. H. 664, and the sixth year of Feroz Sháh 

 (A. H. 758), viz. 1. Bulbun, 2. Kaikobád, 3. Jaláluddin Khilji, 

 4. Aláuddin Khilji, 5. Kutbuddin Khilji, 6. Ghaiásuddin Toghlak, 

 7. Muhammad Toghlak, 8. Feroz Sháh, to whom the work is dedicated, 

 whence its ñame. For the later reigns, the author speaks as a contem- 

 porary witness, and as such he is often quoted by Ferishta in his history 

 of the Toghlak dynasty. The work is edited from the only three manu- 

 scripts known to be extant, by Sayyid Ahmud Khan, under the 

 supervisión of Captain Lees. 



The publication of this work forms an era in Oriental literature. 

 Hitherto for the Pre-Moghul Muhammadan history of India, we have 

 been dependent on Ferishta who flourished under the Emperor Akbar ; 

 Elphinstone's history, for instance, is entirely based on that authority. 

 Zia Barni is the first contemporary author who has been printed to 

 illustrate the five centuries between Mahmud of Ghazni and Baber. 

 It is hoped that the Tarikhi Ferozsháhi will be followed by the Taba- 

 káti Násiri, — as the two together will throw a flood of light on a 

 confessedly obscure period of Indian history. 



Communications received — 



1. From Major General R. I. H. Birch, K. C. B. Secretary to 

 the Government of India, Military Department, a copy of a report 



