210 
H. Blochmann —Geography and History of Bengal. [No. 3, 
title of which contains in the numerical value of the letters the date of its 
completion (A. H. 1202, or A. D. 1787-88), is rare, but is much prized as 
being the fullest account in Persian of the Muhammadan History of Bengal, 
which the author brings down to his own time. From a comparison of 
his work with that by Firishtah, it is evident that for the early portion 
he has used books which are likewise unknown at present, and it is unfor¬ 
tunate that his preface gives no information on this point A Flis additional 
source, it is true, cannot have been a work of considerable size ; yet he gives 
valuable dates which, as will be seen below, are often confirmed by 
collateral evidence. Salim has also made a fair use of the antiquities of 
the Gaur District. Stewart, who used the Biyaz as the basis of his 
History of Bengal, has given a translation of the greater part of the work ; 
but from a leaning to Firishtah he has left out useful passages, which will 
be found below. 
A commentary on Inscriptions necessarily contains references to the 
history and the geography of the country; but in order not to overload the 
subject with unconnected remarks, I have, in the following, separated the 
geographical from the historical portion, and have thus found means to 
collect, in a convenient way, numerous stray notes which for several years 
have been accumulating in the course of my historical studies. 
am 
* When quoting this unknown source, Salim uses phrases as ‘ dar risalah e didah- 
I have seen in some pamphlet,’ or ‘ ba-qaule,’ 1 according to another state- 
’ « 
ment,’ &c. 
The Asiatic Society Library has one MS. of the Riyazussalatin (No. 526), written 
in bold sKikastah, 277 pages, 8vo., 15 lines per page, copied in 1851 at Hajipur by 
one Sadruddin Ahmad. Beginning— Jahan jahdn hamd sazdwdr i bdrgdh i jahdn-dfarine 
ast, Tiih in mazahir i Tcauni-rd ba-yad i qudrat i hdmilah i Ichwesh ba-liilyah i wujud 
muhalla sdkhtah, &c. The work consists of a Preface in four parts, and four Chapters, 
of which the last contains two parts. The end contains the following description of 
the character of the “ new rulers”— 
“ The English among the Christians are adorned with the head-dress of wisdom 
and skill, and ornamented with the garb of generosity and good manners. In resolu¬ 
tion, activity in war, and in festivities, in administering justice and helping the 
oppressed, they are unrivalled; and their truthfulness is so great, that they would 
not break a promise, should they even lose their lives. They admit no liar to their 
society, are pious, faithful, pitiful, and honorable. They have neither learnt the 
letters of deceit, nor have they read the page of vice ; and though their religion is 
opposed to ours, they do not interfere with the religion, rites, and propagation of the 
Muhammadan faith. 
‘AD J 
All wrangling about faith and heresy leads to the same place : the dream is one 
and the same dream, though the interpretations may differ.” 
