THIS compilation is the work of Harsukh Ráí, son of Jíwan Dás, son of Ráí Basant Rám, a Sahkal Khatrí.

Ráí Basant Rám was Governor of Ágra for many years, from the time that province was made over to Mahárája Jai Singh Sawáí by Muhammad Sháh, down to the decline of the Ját power. During this long interval of time, he is said, by his grandson, to have acquitted himself with great credit in the estimation of all men. The author's great-grandfather, Dyá Rám, was díwán to Mubárizu-l Mulk Nawáb Sarbuland Khán. While he praises his own studious disposition, he censures the idleness of his contemporaries. He observes that most people of his time, whether from their slothful nature, or on account of their numerous worldly avocations, are averse to reading long and elaborate works of the great writers and historians, who in a style of correctness, and even of eloquence, have very beautifully written with their golden pens, and, by the aid of their wit and ability, given accounts of monarchs of past ages; that as the science of history is the means of gathering knowledge for wise men, and affords examples to intelligent observers; that as every narration respecting those who have flourished before our time is a precept which improves the understanding of sensible men, and every fact of former time is a precedent which increases the knowledge of inquiring persons; and that as the study of this science is very beneficial to kings and rulers, and also opens the eyes of the common people, by affording information in all respects useful to them; it had therefore been for a long time the ardent desire of this gleaner of crumbs from the table of liberal persons to compile a book in a very simple, intelligible, and concise style, which might form a collection of historical subjects and a depository of facts, embracing an account of the great Rájas and powerful Kings of the extensive country of Hindú-stán, some short sketches of the Princes of Persia from the Kaiánian, Sássánian and other dynasties, who raised the standard of sovereignty on the surface of the earth before the promulgation of the Muhammadan religion; an account of the creation of Adam, a history of the Prophets, great Saints, the rising of the sun of the true religion, memoirs of the great Prophet, the benefactor of mankind, his holy companions, sacred Imáms, philosophers, pious men and the Muhammadan Kings who ruled over the countries of Írán, Túrán, and Hindústán, and who, having caused the khutba to be read and money coined in the name of Islám, erected the standard of power and prosperity in the four quarters of the world, a detail of the several climates, the celebrated cities, their rarities and wonders, the governors of the famous countries of the world, an account of the Europeans, the New World which was conquered by these wise people, a short detail of each tribe with its religion, commencing from the creation of the world. Such was the work he undertook to compile from abstracts taken from credible works and au­thentic narrations, with a view that the hearers and readers of it might, with a little attention, obtain acquaintance with the history of the world. This object he was not able to accomplish, until he met with a patron in the person of Ráí Srí Naráin, his maternal uncle, on whom a ridiculous and fulsome eulogium follows, extending through two pages, which it is needless to repeat.

The author tells us that his work was compiled in the 1214th year of the Hijra era, or forty-second of Sháh 'Álam, and the chronogram in the Preface, which is formed by combining Majma'u-l Akhbár with another word, gives also 1214 A.H. (1799 A.D.); but as he carries down the history to the 1220th year of the Hijra (1805 A.D.), or the forty-eighth of Sháh 'Álam, as appears from one of the translated Extracts which follow, it is probable that an incorrect date has been assumed, in order to make it accord with the title of the work. Though the work is a mere compilation, it is useful in many respects, and is well written. It is divided into eight books (akhbár), and several chapters (khabr), of which a full detail is given below.

The Majma'u-l Akhbár is not uncommon. I know five or six copies, of which the best is in the possession of Nawáb Míán Faujdár Khán, of Bhopál, through whose kindness I obtained the copy in my possession.