THE first work, of which the correct name is supposed to be Bahru-z Zakhkhár, “the swelling sea,” comprises a general history from the beginning of the world to A.H. 997 (A.D. 1589). D'Herbelot quotes the author of the Kashfu-l Zanún as saying that this history is called by some 'Ilmu-z Zakhkhár, “superabundant knowledge,” and that it is the most copious history which the Muhammadans have. Hájí Khalfa says it has no known title, but that the author of Akhbáru-d Dawal mentions it under the name of Bahr, and that some learned men call it, 'Ailemu-z Zákhir fí ahwálu-l-awáil wau-l-awákhir, “an overflowing well in the transactions of ancients and moderns.”
It gives an account of the creation of the world, the Prophets, Syrians, Sabians, Jews, Christians, the four ancient Persian dynasties, the Kings of the Greeks, of the Israelites, Sultáns of Egypt, the Arab tribes, Muhammad, the first four Khalífs, and those of the Ummayide and 'Abbáside dynasties, the Mamlúks who ruled over Syria, the several dynasties of the Saffárians, Sámánians, Ghorians, Ghaznivides, Dílamites or Buwaihides, Saljúkians, Khwárazm-sháhís, Changíz Khán, Tímúr, and their descendants, the Ottoman Emperors, and others.
The work was originally written in Arabic, and translated by the author into Turkish, and abridged by him also in that language. Hence some confusion has arisen in describing it, and a second source of error arises from there being another author of this name, who wrote a history of Tímúr.
It is divided into 82 sections, each containing a different dynasty; and, although Hájí Khalfa notices that several dynasties are omitted which are mentioned in the Jahán-árá, yet he states that he knew no work equally copious as a compendium. He therefore abstracted the greater part into his own historical work, entitled Fazlaka, but increased the number of the different dynasties to 150. He states also that the Akhbáru-d Dawal wa ásáru-l-awwal, “the annals of dynasties and the monuments of ancient things,” in 380 folios, written A.H. 1008, by Ahmad bin Yúsuf bin Ahmad, is an abridgment of Jannábí's history, to which the epitomator adds a little of his own, omitting at the same time many dynasties given by Jannábí.
D'Herbelot varies in giving the name of this author. Under the article “Gianabi,” he gives it as, Abou Mohammed Mosthafa ben Seid bin Saiyd Hassan al Hosseini, and under “Tarikh al Gianabi,” he calls him, al Gianabi ben Seid Hassan al Roumi. Uri gives his full name as, Abu Muhammed Mustafá ben al-Said al-Hasan ben al-Said Senan ben al-Said Ahmed al-Hosaini al-Hashemi al-Carshi. He died A.H. 999 (A.D. 1591).
I know of no Manuscript of this work in India, but there was a copy in Sir Gore Ouseley's collection. The name of Bahru-l Zakhkhár is familiar, as being the title of a ponderous work devoted to the lives of Muhammadan Saints. It is also the name of the first volume of a modern compilation, called Majm'au-l Mulúk.
The Arabic history exists at Oxford and St. Petersburg, and the Turkish is in the Royal Library of Vienna. The Bodleian has two copies, both in two volumes; one copy is in folio, comprising 553 leaves, but there are only 76 sections included in it; another is in 4 to comprising 880 leaves.*
THIS work is very frequently quoted by Firishta, both in the General History, as well as in the Histories of Bengál, Sind, and Gujarát, and throughout a period extending from Mahmúd of Ghazní to the accession of Akbar. It is, therefore, evidently a General History. The work is also quoted by Ghulám Basít, but probably at second hand.
In the Sahíhu-l Akhbár, Sarúp Chand quotes as one of the authorities to which he is indebted, Táríkh-i Sadr-i Jahán by Hájí Muhammad Kandahárí, in which he has confounded two names together, and rendered himself open to the suspicion of quoting works which he never saw,—a practice by no means uncommon with our modern historiographers.
I cannot learn that there is any copy of this work extant.
(See Briggs's Firishta, vol. i. pp. 52, 408, vol. iv. pp. 48, 345, 401.)
THE “Victories of the Sultáns” would seem, if we may judge by the title, to be a General History. It is quoted in the preface of the Tabakát-i Akbarí as one of the authorities on which that history is founded.
Firishta, under the reign of Ghiyásu-d dín Tughlik, quotes this anecdote from it.
“As the King was near the hills of Tirhút, the Rájá appeared in arms, but was pursued into the woods. Finding his army could not penetrate them, the King alighted from his horse, called for a hatchet, and cut down one of the trees with his own hand. The troops, on seeing this, applied themselves to work with such spirit, that the forest seemed to vanish before them. They arrived at length at the fort, surrounded by seven ditches full of water, and defended by a high wall. The King invested the place, filled up the ditches, and destroyed the wall in three weeks. The Rájá and his family were taken, and great booty was obtained, and the government of Tirhút was conferred upon Ahmad Khán.”
Briggs observes in a note, “I understand this is a compilation of little authority, and may be ranked with the Jámi'u-l Hikáyát, or other collections of historical romances.”
A HISTORY of India; comprising an Introduction, twelve Sections and Supplement.
Introduction.—The sovereigns of India, from Shem, the son of Noah, to Ánand Deo.
1st Sect.—The Sultáns of Láhore, from Násiru-d dín Subuktigín, to Khusrú, son of Khusrú Sháh.
2nd Sect.—Kings of Dehlí, from Mu'izzu-d dín Muhammad Sám to Akbar.
3rd Sect.—Kings of the Dakhin in six Chapters, treating of the Kings of Kulbarga, Bíjápúr, Ahmadnagar, Telingána, Birár and Bidar.
4th Sect.—Princes of Gujarát.
5th Sect.—Princes of Málwá.
6th Sect.—Princes of Burhánpúr.
7th Sect.—Kings of Bengal.
8th Sect.—Kings of Sind and Tatta.
9th Sect.—Princes of Multán.
10th Sect.—Kings of Kashmír.
11th Sect.—Rulers of Malabár.
12th Sect.—The holy men of Hindústán.
Supplement.—A description of Hindústán.
Author unknown; the work follows the same order, and so would appear to be an abridgment of Firishta.*
THIS is a very good general history of the world, which was begun in 1611 A.D., and took the compiler twenty years to complete. The author was a native of Eastern Persia, and a contemporary of Firishta. He avows that he is a mere copyist, even of the words of his authorities, and states that the chief source of his History of Hindústán is the Táríkh-i Alfí, from which he has extracted no less than sixty thousand lines. Wilken, who makes great use of this author in his notes to his translation of the History of the Ghaznivide Emperors, says that the first volume alone of this work, which is in the Royal Library of Berlin, comprises no less than 737 leaves, and even this is not perfect. I have never heard of the work in India, but it is quoted under the name of Táríkh-i Mirzá Haidar, by Nizámu-d dín Ahmad Bakhshi,* as one of the chief sources of his information.*