THE author of this work is Harí Charan Dás, son of Udai Ráí, son of Mukund Ráí, son of Ságar Mal, late chaudharí and kanúngo of the pargana of Mírat, in the province of Dehlí. He tells us that he was in the employment of Nawáb Kásim 'Alí Khán; and in the first year of the reign of 'Álamgír II., he accompanied the Nawáb and his daughter, Najbu-n Nisá Khánam, alias Bíbí Khánam, wife of the late Nawáb, Najmu-d daula Is'hák Khán, when they proceeded to Oudh, to have an interview with Nawáb Mirzá 'Alí Khán Iftikháru-d daula and Sálár Jang Khán-khánán, the brothers of the deceased Nawáb, and sons of Nawáb Mu'tamadu-d daula Is'hák Khán.
Kásim 'Alí Khán, immediately after his arrival at Faizábád, departed this world, and the death of that nobleman was a heavy blow to all his relations and friends. The compiler, after this lamentable event, was, however, kindly retained in the service of the daughter of the deceased Nawáb and his sons Shafík 'Alí Khán and Áká 'Alí Khán. Shafík 'Alí Khán, the elder brother, was much affected by the death of his father, and survived him only a few years. He was succeeded by his son, Husain 'Alí Khán, who, having the same favourable regard which his father had towards the compiler, permitted him, through the recommendation of Najbu-n Nisá Begam, to continue to receive his allowance.
Although the family of the deceased Nawáb was so kindly disposed towards him, yet, on account of some events which he promises to detail, a considerable change took place in his circumstances, and he was not so comfortably situated as before. Having no employment which could occupy his attention, and not wishing to waste his time in idleness, he devoted himself to the study of histories and biographical accounts of the ancient Kings. In this agreeable pursuit he was liberally assisted by Ibráhím 'Alí Khán, alias Mirzá Khairátí, son of Hikmat-ma'áb Khán, physician to the Emperor Ahmad Sháh. This learned man was a near relation of the deceased Nawáb Kásim 'Alí Khán, and had come with him to Faizábád. He was one of the greatest scholars of the time, and had a tolerable knowledge of mathematics and other sciences. He had collected a large number of historical and other works, and spent a great part of his time in their study. Being acquainted with the circumstances and tastes of the compiler, he kindly lent him several works on history, such as Firishta, Habíbu-s Siyar, Mir-át-i 'Álam, Khulásatu-l Akhbárát, and others. But not satiated with the perusal of these books, the compiler also carefully went through the Sháh-náma, Rájávalí, Rámáyana, Mahábhárat, Bhágavat, Faizí's translation of the Jog Bashist from the Sanskrit into Persian, which he had in his own possession, besides other works which he borrowed from his friends.
Having by these means obtained an acquaintance with the history of ancient times, he wished to compile a work which might embrace an account of the Rájas, Kings, and Nobles of past ages, according to the information derived from the books above enumerated. He also designed to continue his work up to the 1199th year of the Hijra era (1785 A.D.), to produce a history of contemporary Kings and Amírs, and of those noblemen in whose employment he had been, noticing at the same time all the facts of historical importance which occurred under his own observation during his long life of eighty years. To this he also intended to add a sketch of his own and of his ancestors' lives, that he might leave a memorial to posterity.
From the time that the writer came to Oudh, some allowance for his maintenance was made by Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula, through the recommendation of Bíbí Khánam and Shafík 'Alí Khán, and he continued to receive it for seventeen years, that is, up to 1184 A.H. (1770 A.D.), when it was stopped by Bení Bahádur, on account of some misunderstanding which arose between him and Bíbí Khánam. This involved the writer in great pecuniary distress, but after a few years, when Bení Bahádur became blind, and was deprived of his authority, an order was passed for restoring the payments which had been withheld. Although this was effected through the favour of Bíbí Khánam, in whose immediate employment he was, yet he considered it his duty to make some return for the obligations which he was under to Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula; and “as that nobleman took great delight in gardens and orchards, and as every chapter of this work gives no less pleasure to the mind than a walk through the parterres of a garden, the compiler thought it proper to dedicate it to him, and gave it therefore the title of Chahár Gulzár Shujá'í, “The Four Rose Gardens of Shujá'.”
The work is nevertheless divided into five Books, fancifully styled Chamans, or “parterres,” an apparent inconsistency derived from the fact that four is a favourite number, especially with respect to gardens, which, being generally square after the Oriental fashion, are divided into four even portions, by two transverse roads.
[The preceding account of the work was taken by Sir H. M. Elliot from the author's Preface. The writer is very communicative in other parts of his work as to his family and pecuniary matters, and he frequently enters into long details about them and his employments. He lived to the age of eighty, and had seen many of the events which he describes, so that his work is of value, though it is somewhat discursive. The Extracts all relate to modern times. They were translated for Sir H. M. Elliot by munshís, and have been corrected in his handwriting.]