214 
H. Blochmann— Geography and History of Bengal. [No. 3, 
now add three more, viz. Fathahad, Khalifatabad, and Husainabad, which 
will be discussed below. The inscriptions reveal the important fact, that 
Bengal was divided into revenue divisions called Mahalls, over which, as in 
the Dikii empire, Shiqdars* * * § were placed, and into larger circles under 
£ Sarlashkars,’ or military commanders, who have often also the title ofVazir 
(Diwan). Of places mentioned on inscriptions I may cite—Iqlim Mu’az- 
zamabad (Eastern Maimansingh) ; Thanah Laur (north-western Silhat,—• 
both occur also united under the same Sarlashkar) ; Sarliat, in western 
Birbhum, now in the Santal Parganahs ; Laopallah, east of the Island in 
the Hugli opposite Tribeni Ghat, evidently in olden times an important 
place as lying at the point where the Jabuna leaves the Hugli and 
commences her tortuous course, first easterly, then southerly, into the 
Sundarban ;f and also several places which have not yet been identified, as 
Simlabad, Hadigarh, and Sajla-Mankhbad. J 
From the middle of the 16th century we have the works and maps of 
Portuguese historians, notably the classical ‘ Da Asia’ by Joao de Barros (died 
1570) ; and the graphic descriptions of Caesar Frederick (1570) and .Ralph 
Fitch (1583 to 1591). Nor must I forget the Persian traveller Amin Razi, 
an uncle of Nur Jalian, who composed his ‘ Haft Iqlim’ in A. H. 1002 (A. D. 
1591) ; but it is doubtful whether he visited Bengal, or merely wrote down 
what he heard at Agrah. I shall occasionally refer to the works of these 
travellers below. § 
But by far the most interesting contribution to the geography of 
Bengal, in spite of the unsatisfactory state of the MSS., is Todar Mall’s 
rent-roll. Though of 1582, it may be assumed that Todar Mall merely gave 
in it what he found to exist with regard to both divisions and revenue ; for 
Bengal was only subjugated during Jahangir’s reign, and properly assessed 
* How extensively tlie Hindus were employed as revenue officers may be seen 
from the fact that the Arabic-Persian Shiqddr and Majmu’ahddr have become Bang-all 
family names, generally spelt ‘ Sikdar’ and ‘ Mozoomdar.’ 
f The island opposite Tribeni has a conspicuous place on De Barros’ Map of 
Bengal and on that by Blaev (vide PI. IY.). The maps also agree with Abul Fazl’s 
statement in the Ain, that at Tribeni there are three branches, one the Saraswatl, on 
which Satgaon lies; the other, the Ganga, now called the Hugli; and the third, the 
Jon or Jabuna (Jamuna). De Barros and Blaev’s Maps shew the three branches of 
almost equal thickness, the Saraswatl passing Satigam (Satgaon), and Cliouma 
(Cliaumuha in Hugli District, north), and the Jabuna flowing westwards to Buram 
(Borhan, in the 24-Parganahs). 
J Journal, A. S. Bengal, 1870, Pt. I., p. 284. 
§ I have not mentioned Nicold de Conti’s Travels (1419 to 1444, A. D.), because 
he only mentions one town in Bengal, Cernove on the Ganges, which Col. Yule has 
identified with the' Shalir i Nau,’ or ‘ New Town’ on Sikandar Shah’s coin of 1379 
(Thomas, In. Coinage of Bengal, Journal, A. S. Bengal, 1867, p. 65) * but the position 
of this town is still a matter of doubt. 
