The Preface, showing the cause of his writing history, with copies of verses in praise of the Magistrate and Collector and Judge, and Sir Charles Metcalfe, p. 1.—The Introduction contains an account of Adam, the Prophets, Muhammad, Saints, and Philosophers, p. 11.—BOOK I. comprises an account of the Kaiánians, 'Ummayides and 'Abbásides, and Changíz Khán, p. 85; II. Tímúr and his Descendants in India, down to the battle of Buxar, p. 182; III. The Rájas of Dehlí preceding the introduction of Muhammadanism, p. 245; IV. The Ghaznívides and Kings of Dehlí to the time of Bábar, p. 269; V. The Saljúkians, Safavíáns, Isma'ílians, and some other dynasties, p. 365.—The Conclusion describes the seven climates, with geographical details, and the wonders of the world, p. 387.
SIZE—Folio, 441 pages, each containing 23 lines.
This work, which was composed in 1835, is chiefly an abstract, without acknowledgment, of the Mir-át-i Áftáb-numá, and is of no value, though of some repute in Bundelkhand, where it was composed. There is nothing original throughout the whole work. The author says that his ancestors were frequently appointed tutors to the Princes of the Imperial family of Dehlí; that the Fatáwáí 'Álamgírí and Fatáwáí Hindí were compiled by them; that he himself was tutor to Mirzá Jahángír and Mirzá Bábar; that thinking it his duty to instruct them in history, he diligently read the Sháh-náma, and made extracts from historical works in the Imperial Library; that on the removal of Prince Jahángír to Alláhábád, the author's eldest son, Saiyid Ahmad 'Alí Khán, was appointed under, him as the Prince's tutor; that he himself, finding the Prince's indifference to learning, left Alláhábád, and was appointed by Mr. W. Dick to be Munsif of Hamírpúr; and that seeing Mr. Pidcock one day studying a book respecting the Sádhs, and observing that gentleman's eager desire to learn ancient history, he thought that a general history would be acceptable to him, and in furtherance of this view he compiled the Táríkh-i Henry.
The Táríkh-i Henry, notwithstanding that it is dedicated to an English gentleman, contains at its commencement a sly insinuation against the doctrine of the Trinity and Incarnation.