1904.] Abdul Wali —Antiquity and Traditions of Shahzadpur. 269 
According to Dr. Buchanan, “ it is probable, indeed, that there were 
Muhammadans in this part (eastern) of Bengal, at a period long 
anterior to the conquest of the country by Bakhtvar Khiljl in 1203. ” 
Basra merchants, it is a fact, carried on an extensive maritime com¬ 
merce with India and China, as early as the 8th century, and many 
of them settled in the countries they visited. Dr. William Robertson 
(Ancient India, p. 95) states that they were so numerous in Canton, 
that the Chinese Emperor (according to the Arab authors) permitted 
them to have a QazI of their own sect, who decided controversies 
among his country-men by their own laws, and presided in all the 
functions of religion. In other sea-ports proselytes were gained, and 
the Arabic language was spoken and understood. 1 There is reason to 
believe, from this circumstance, that Bengal was the seat of a colony 
of Muhammadan merchants at this early period. This may be inferred 
from the extensive commerce it enjoyed with the countries of the West 
from early times. See J.A.S. Vol. XVI (1847) pp. 76-77. 
Was Shahzadpur—or rather Yusufshahl—such a colony P Was 
Makhdum Shah Daula “ Shahid ” at once the Vasco de Gama and the 
Clive of the expedition ? The tradition is told without regard for 
chronology. Native credulity has of course woven together exaggerated 
accounts. 
The following biographical sketch of Mu‘azz-ibn Jabal whose son, 
published by M. Renoudat in 1718. The Relation of the two Arab travellers is 
confirmed by Mas'udi, who himself visited India. 
The progress of the Arabians extended far beyond the Gulf of Siam, the bound¬ 
ary of European navigation. They became acquainted with Sumatra and the other 
islands of the Indian Archipelago and advanced as far as Canton. Nor are these 
discoveries to be considered as the effect of the enterprising curiosity of individuals; 
they were owing to a regular commerce carried on from the Persian Gulf with 
China and all the intermediate countries. In a short time they advanced far beyond 
the boundaries of ancient navigation and brought many of the most precious com¬ 
modities of the East direotly from the countries which produced them. They 
noticed the general use of silk among the Chinese. They are the first who 
mention the celebrated manufacture of porcelain. They describe the tea-tree, 
and the mode of using its leaves, and the great revenue which was levied from the 
consumption of tea— Extracted from Dr. William Robertson’s “ An Historical 
Disquisition Concerning Ancient India” Section III , pp. 93-96 , and Note XXXVI> 
p. 224. 
I As with the Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish, and English, so with the Arabs of 
old, commerce was the first consideration that impelled them to seek adventures. 
Commerce wss followed by colonizing zeal and missionary enterprise. Their long 
domiciliation in India led them to contract undesirable marriages with low- 
caste native females, thus giving birth to a new race of Indo-Arabs, which produced 
slowly but surely, degeneration, deterioration and downfall. 
J. i. 35 
