JOURNAL 
OF THE 
ASIATIC SOCIETY. 
—— 
Part I.—HISTORY, LITERATURE, &e. 
No. III.—1874. 
Oil the Sarah Bhiigas of Eastern Bengal.—Bg Du. James Wise, 
Dhaka. 
[With a Plate.] 
The history of Bengal furnishes little information regarding the 
seventeen years that elapsed from the death of Daud Shah in 1576 to the 
final conquests of Baja Man Singh in 1593. The great military revolt, and 
the stubborn resistance of the Afghans, sadly tried the stability of the newly 
established empire, and it was only after repeated defeats that the power 
of the malcontents was broken, and the villages of Bengal were relieved from 
the requisitions of the rival armies. In eastern and southern Bengal the 
contest was most prolonged, and amid the swamps and rivers the Mughal 
troops were harassed by an enemy who selected his own time and place for 
fighting, but who generally retreated carrying with him all the boats on 
the rivers. But besides these advantages the rebels were assisted by many 
of the great landholders of the country and by their troops, who were 
inured to the country and accustomed to overcome the physical difficulties 
which threw so many obstacles in the way of the invaders. 
Among the vague traditions lingering in Bengal is one, that at the 
period mentioned the whole of the country was ruled by twelve great 
princes, and hence Bengal is often spoken of by Hindus as the “ Barah 
Bhuya Mulk.” Who these princes were, bj r whom they were appointed, 
and to whom they owed allegiance, has never been investigated. The 
following notes regarding five of these governors, imperfect though they 
are, will it is to be hoped excite others, who have the opportunity, to add 
B B 
