[THIS work is also found bearing the names Mir-átu-l Wárídát and Táríkh-i Muhammad-Sháhí. The author was Muhammad Shafí'-i Teharání, whose poetical soubriquet was Wárid. He tells his readers that he was born in Hindústán, but that his father, Muhammad Sharíf, and his ancestors, were natives of Teharán. Up to the age of forty-one he had done nothing to hand his name down to posterity, and while he was regretting his wasted life, and considering what work he should undertake, he was visited by his friend, Mirza 'Ináyatu-llah 'Atúfat Khán, at whose instance he composed this history. He goes on to say, “From the year 1100 A.H., the greater portion of what I have recorded I have myself seen, and that which I heard from trust­worthy persons I took the utmost pains in sifting and inquiring into, and whatever statements I had the slightest doubt about I discarded. But from the commencement of the war of the late Sultán Muhammad A'zam up to the present time, or for twenty-two years, I have seen everything with my own eyes.” The work is written in an elegant, but somewhat difficult style. It begins with the history of Bábar, and includes part of the reign of Muhammad Sháh down to the withdrawal of Nádir Sháh in 1739. He closes his work with the following statement:

“After the departure of Nádir Sháh, a Royal Order was issued to the following effect: ‘All public officers should occupy themselves in the discharge of their ordinary duties, except the historians. These should refrain from recording the events of my reign, for at present the record cannot be a pleasant one. The reins of Imperial or Supreme Government have fallen from my hands. I am now the viceroy of Nádir Sháh.’ Notwith­standing that the nobles and great officers of the Court, hearing these melancholy reflections of the Emperor, in many compli­mentary and flattering speeches recommended him to withdraw this order, His Majesty would not be satisfied. Consequently, being helpless, all the historians obeyed the royal mandate, and laid down their pens.”

The work is not a very long one. The copy used by Colonel Lees was a royal octavo of 668 pages, 15 lines to the page. There is a copy and several extracts of the work in the library of Sir H. M. Elliot.*]

EXTRACT.

(Nádir Sháh), calling Burhánu-l Mulk before him, sent him to the presence of Muhammad Sháh, having determined upon this treaty, that the Emperor of Hindústán should come to have an interview with him, and that he should not be sparing of his money and goods. He on his part would hold fast to the treaty, and the sovereignty and the whole kingdom, as formerly, should remain in the possession of his brother monarch.

Burhánu-l Mulk was admitted to the presence for the pur­pose of delivering this message. Next morning Nizámu-l Mulk went before the Sháh to arrange matters, and the Sháh came as far as the door of the tent to meet him.

The following day Muhammad Sháh proceeded there, riding in a light litter. As he entered the tent, Nádir Sháh came respect­fully forward, and they, taking one another's hands, sat down together upon the same masnad. The coffee-bearer first presented coffee to Nádir Sháh, and he with his own hands courteously presented it to Muhammad Sháh, and said, “Since you have done me the honour to come here, you are my brother, and may you remain happy in the empire of Hindústán.”

After two hours, Muhammad Sháh returned to his own camp, and diffused comfort among the dejected chiefs of Hindústán. It had been determined that both Kings should march together towards Sháh-Jahánábád. So on Friday, the 8th of Zí-l hijja, in the year 1151 A.H. (8th March, 1739), the two Emperors reached Dehlí. Nawáb Burhánu-l Mulk was present there at the time, but on the following morning he died. On the night of the third day from that Friday, this extraordinary circumstance occurred, that some people of Hindústán raised a report that Muhammad Sháh had made away with Nádir Sháh. When this rumour spread through the city, every man cut down with his sword each vanquished one without compassion. The Persians, hearing of the murder of their master, lost all self-control, and three thousand or more of them were put to death.

About midnight, the officers of Nádir Sháh, frightened and trembling, represented the state of affairs to the Sháh. The Sháh, angry at being aroused, said, “The men of my army are maliciously accusing the people of Hindústán, so that I should kill a number of them, and give the signal for plunder.” But when this information was repeated over and over again to the Sháh, he seized his sword, and in the Mosque of Rasadu-d daula (which is situated near the court of the superintendent of the police), he himself made that sword a standard, and issued the order for slaughter.

From that night till five hours of the following day, man, woman, animal, and every living thing which came under the eyes of the Persians, was put to the sword, and from every house ran a stream* of blood. At last Muhammad Sháh mounted, and went to the Sháh to make intercession for God's people. Nádir Sháh, out of consideration for him, willingly acceded to his wishes, gave orders that the Persians should immediately cease from further slaughter, and desist from this unseemly work. In short, a proclamation of quarter was made, and the cry of this glad tidings resounded on all sides.

After this, Nádir Sháh remained for some days, and collecting a great deal of treasure and wealth, he set out towards the capital of Írán. On the way to Lattí, the ruler of Sind, who had come out with hostile designs, was defeated by Nádir Sháh with very little trouble, and obliged to submit. On the day Nádir Sháh set out for the capital of Írán, a notice was sent to Fúlád Khán, the superintendent of the police of Hindústán, intimating that not one of the Persians remained in Hindústán.