THIS is a very useful little manual of general history, compiled in 1208 A.H. (1793-4 A.D.), by Mírzá Abú Muhammad Tabrízí Isfahání, and being carried down to modern times, embraces an account of Europe and America.
The author is usually known in India as Abú Tálib Londoní, from his voyage to and adventures in England and Europe, an amusing account of which was written by him on his return in 1803, and is well known to the European world by the translation of Major Stewart.
In the Preface to this work he tells us that he had collected several works of history and travel, and had often perused them, but found amongst them none that contained a history of the whole world; he therefore thought that he would himself supply this deficiency, but had no leisure to effect his object till the year above mentioned, when he finished his Abstract. He declares his intention, if he lives long enough, of enlarging his work, and hopes that some one else, if he fails to do it, will undertake this useful labour, “because he has mentioned all the occurrences of the world, old and new, and given a connected account of the Prophets, Khalífs, Sultáns, and celebrated men, from the beginning to the present time.”
He quotes the various authorities he used, and besides others
of common note, he mentions a history of the Kings of India
compiled by himself, and a compendious account of the kingdoms
of Europe and America, translated by some English gentleman
from his own tongue, “which in truth contains very many new
matters.” This is no doubt the work of Jonathan Scott. He
says that his own history is an abstract of some thousands of
books, and therefore he has entitled it Lubbu-s Siyar wa Jahán-
The author was the son of Hájí Muhammad Khán, a Turk of Ázarbáíján, who was born and bred in Isfahán, and was the first of the family who came to Hindústán, where he was inrolled amongst the followers of Nawáb Safdar Jang, the wazír. The father is called by another name in the Preface of this work, and in the Miftáhu-t Tawáríkh he is styled Muhammad Beg Khán.
Mírzá Abú Tálib was born at Lucknow, and was employed in posts of high emolument under Nawábs Shujá'u-d daula and Ásafu-d daula. In the time of the latter he lost his office, and came to seek his subsistence from the English. By them he was hospitably entertained, and induced to visit Europe in 1799. He died and was buried at Lucknow in the year 1220 A.H. (1805 A.D.), as we learn from two chronograms composed by Mr. Beale at the request of Mírzá Yúsuf Bákir, the deceased's son, which are given at p. 564 of the Miftáhu-t Tawáríkh.
Besides the Lubbu-s Siyar, he wrote several other treatises, a Biography of the Poets, ancient and modern, and “himself indulged in versification, especially on the subject of the females of England, who aspire to equality with the Angels of Paradise, and he was always expatiating on the heart-ravishing strains of the women of that country, who used to sing at the public assemblies.”*