CVI.
TÁRÍKH-I FAIZ BAKHSH
OF
SHEO PARSHÁD.

THIS is a history of the Afgháns of Rohilkhand, and details the transactions between them and the Nawábs of Oudh with such copiousness as to render it worth translation. It was compiled at the desire of General Kirkpatrick in A.H. 1190 (A.D. 1776), by Sheo Parshád, who gives the following account of the reasons which induced him to undertake the task. He says that one day in camp, between Bilgrám and Malláwan, he was introduced in Colonel Collins's tent by Captain Keelpatrick (?) to his brother (General ?) Kirkpatrick, who had lately arrived from Chunár, and the author was so much pleased with his affability and condescension, that he offered his services to that officer, who desired him to give an account of the Afgháns of Katehr, from the time of Nawáb 'Alí Muhammad Khán, when they first acquired power, to the affair of Laldong, in order that he might translate it into English, and forward it to the King of England (Farang). When he returned to the tent, he had a sleepless night; and he declares that if he were to tell all the thoughts which occupied and distracted his mind during that night, a volume would not suffice. Finding on the morrow that General Kirkpatrick was not able fully to comprehend his verbal history, he determined upon writing it, in order that that gentleman might at his leisure translate it with the aid of his munshí. He accordingly set to work to compose his narrative, and finished it in March, A.D. 1776.

The history by Faiz Bakhsh, of Faizábád, is also known by the name of Táríkh-i Faiz Bakhsh; and as both of them treat of the same period, there is great probability of confounding the two works. The work, though written by a Hindú, not only opens with the usual laud of the Deity, but proceeds to celebrate Muhammad, and the Chahár Yár besides.

SIZE—8VO., 388 pages of 13 lines each.