Be it not hidden that, in ancient times, the Rais of the Kingdom of Bengal (Bangālah) were powerful, and of high rank and dignity, and did not owe allegiance to the Mahārājah of Hindū­stān, who ruled over the throne at Delhī. For instance, Sūraj,* who was a powerful Rājāh, subjugated the Kingdom of Dakhin (Dakin). At that time, his deputies commenced grasping and usurping; and in the Kingdom of Hindūstān, idol-worship dates from his time. It is said that, in the beginning, Hind, having seen and heard from his father Hām, son of Noah (peace be on him!) devoted himself to the worship of God; and that his children also, in the same manner, worshipped God, until, in the time of Rai Mahārāj,* a person coming from Persia perverted the people of Hindūstān to sun-worship. I ffluxen of time, some became star-worshippers, and others fire-worshippers. In the time of Rai Sūraj, a Brahmin, coming from the mountains of Jharkand,* entered his service, and taught the Hindūs idol-worship, and preached that everyone preparing a gold or silver or stone image of his father and grandfather, should devote himself to its wor­ship; and this practice became more common than other practices. And at the present day in the religious practice of Hindūs, the worship of idols, and of the sun, and of fire is very common. Some say that fire-worship was introduced by Ibrāhīm Zardasht* in the time of Gashtāsp,* Emperor of Persia, and spread to Kābul and Sīstān and throughout the empire of Persia, and that, in process of time, the kingdom of Bengal became subject to the Rais of Hindūstān, and the Rais of Bengal paid revenue and sundry tributes. After this, Shangaldīp,* emerging from the environs of Koch,* became victorious over Kīdār, and founded the city of Gaur, and made it the seat of government, and for a period ruled over the Kingdom of Bengal and the whole empire of Hindūstān. When Shangaldīp collected four thousand elephants, one lak cavalry, and four laks of infantry, the breeze of insolence wafted in the recesses of his brain, and he ceased to pay tribute to the Emperors of Persia,* as was hitherto the practice with the Rāis of Hindūstān. And when Afrāsiāb* deputed some one to demand the tribute, he rebuked and insulted him. Afrāsiāb flew into rage, and despatched his General, Pīran-vīsah, with fifty thousand Mongols, thirsty for blood. In the mountains of Koch, near the limits of Ghorāghat, in Bengal, an engagement took place; for two days and nights the fighting continued. Although the Mon­gols displayed deeds of bravery, and put to the sword fifty thousand of the enemy, yet owing to the overwhelming numbers of the Indian army, they could effect nothing. The Mongols also lost eighteen thousand of their numbers, and on the third day, seeing symptoms of defeat on the forehead of their condition, they retreated. And as the Indian army was victorious, and the Mongol’s country was distant, the Mongols gave up fighting, and retiring into the mountains, secured a strong place, where they entrenched themselves, and sent to Afrāsiāb an account narrating the state of things. At that time, Afrāsiāb was in the town of Gangdozh, which is situate midway between Khatā and China, and is distant a month’s journey on the other side from Khānbā­ligh.* On the simple receipt of the account, and being apprised of the state of things, he marched swiftly to the aid of the Mongols, with one lak chosen cavalry. And at a time, when Shangal, summoning together the Rāis of the surrounding countries, was pressing the siege hard against Pīrān, and was about to put all to the sword, he (Afrāsiāb) attacked him on the way. The Hindūs, on the first onslaught, losing heart and feeling paralysed, dispersed, like the constellation of the bear. Pīrān, relieved from the anxiety of the siege, paid his obeisance to Afrāsiāb. Afrāsiāb threw down on the soil of annihilation as many of the Hindu army as he could. And Shangal with the remnants being vanquished, retreated to the town of Lakhnauti, and owing to the pursuit of Afrāsiāb, could not prolong his stay at Lakhnāuti more than a day, and took refuge in the hills of Tirhūt. And the Mongols, ravaging the Kingdom of Bengal, spared no trace of fertility. And when Afrāsiāb planned an expedition towards the hills of Tīrhūt, Shangal begged forgiveness for his misbehaviour through wise envoys, and presented himself before Afrāsiāb with a sword and a winding-sheet, and prayed for leave to go to the country of Tūrān. Afrāsiāb, being pleased, bestowed the Kingdom of Bengal and the whole empire of Hindūstān on Shangal’s son, and carried Shangal in his company, and in the battle of Hāmā­wāran Shangal was killed at the hands of Rustam.* And in the reign of Rājāh Jaichand,* owing to whose neglect, decay had over­taken several provinces of Hindūstān, and for years Hindūstān did not see its normal state, ruin was visible over the whole empire of India. At that time, certain Rājāhs of Bengal, finding an oppor­tunity, and grasping at domination, became independent. And when Fūr (Porus),* who was a relation of the Rājāh of Kumāyūn,* emerged, he first subjugated the province of Kumāyūn, and then capturing in battle Rājāh Dahlū, brother of Jaichand, who had founded Dehlī,* subjugated Kanūj, and after this he marched with his force towards Bengal, and brought it to his subjection, up to the confines of the sea. And this Porus is he, who was killed at the hands of Alexander. After this, Rājāh Madiw Rāthor,* like whom there had been few such powerful Rajahs in Hindustan, marching with his forces, conquered the Kingdom of Lakhnautī, and allotted it to his nephews, and after introducing perfect methods of govern­ment, returned to Kanauj with immense booty. And, in efflux of time, the Rajahs of Bengal again asserting independence, continued to rule peacefully.*

Inasmuch as the object of the author is to chronicle the history of the Musalman sovereigns, therefore, not busying himself with the details of the affairs of the Hindū Rāis, he reins back the graceful steed of the black pen of writing from striding this valley, and gives it permission to canter towards relating and reciting the details of the history of the Muhammadan rulers and sovereigns.