90 
E. E. Oliver —Declifie of the Sdmdnis and the Rise of the [No. 2, 
for history, his vanity in this respect has made his coinage richer in 
names, places, and dates, than perhaps any other. His own, his father’s, 
and his son’s names, the contemporary Khalifah, the name of his 
Suzerain and of his father, his titles, the place of mintage, the date, 
and sometimes even the month, are occasionally to be met with on the 
same coin ; a little history in itself which as a check on the native 
chronicles becomes invaluable. 
Comparison of such evidence on a sufficiently large scale would in 
time enable us to clear up the history of many now entirely obscure 
periods. Such comparison is, however, only possible under the most 
exceptional circumstances, discoveries of large hoards of coins are very 
few and far between, and though from time to time a few worn coins 
with strange Kufic inscriptions of curious interest do find their way to 
the bazars of Northern India, they are of course rare, and collectors 
being now so numerous, it is highly improbable that sufficient will fall 
to one individual to serve any useful purpose. The Indian ofiicial is 
moreover handicapped in many other ways, by the want of books of 
reference, and of information as to what has been done already, and still 
more by the want of time for anything outside his immediate work at 
the State mill. The most practical suggestion is that of Mr. Stanley 
Lane Poole in the last number of the Numismatic Chronicle to compile 
from all sources a History of the Muhammadan Empire as established 
by coins, comparing the leading cabinets of the world. And for the 
purpose of such a Fasti Arahici every coin accurately described may 
prove of value. Such a reason may perhaps serve as an excuse for the 
publication of the few I have met with, in preference to waiting in.the 
probably vain hope of completing a series. 
If not indeed to make such description in telligible, at any rate to 
give something of interest to the dry numismatic bones, it is desirable to 
make some effort to cover them with what has been so far ascertained of 
the history of their whilom owners, and at the risk of trespassing on 
ground already explored by past masters in the art, I have endeavoured 
to bring together in a brief and imperfect sketch an outline of the 
decline of one and the rise of another dynasty on the banks of the 
Oxus. 
Mawara-un-Nahr, literally “ what is beyond the River,” is perhaps 
not so convenient a term as Transoxania, or the Greater Bukharia of old 
European writers, but is more accurate. By it may be understood the 
territory bounded on the North by Tashkand, on the Bast by Farghanah 
or Khokand. on the South by Balkh, and on the West by lOiwarazm or 
Khiva; of which the capital was Samarkand, and under the Samanis, 
Bukhara. The Samanis themselves were originally natives of Khurasjin, 
