THE “WORLD-REFLECTING MIRROR” was written by Shaikh Kudratu-llah Sadíkí, an inhabitant of Maví, near the town of Kábar in Rohilkhand. He quotes several authorities of the ordinary stamp, as well as all those mentioned in the Khulásatu-t Tawáríkh, which he would evidently wish the incautious reader to believe were consulted by him also in original.

There is nothing novel in the work, but the Biographies at the end are useful. It was commenced in the year 1191 A.H. (1777 A.D.), and bears the same date at the end; but this is evidently a mistake, for, at the close of the Dehlí history, events are brought down to the year 1193 A.H. (1779 A.D.), “when twenty years had elapsed of the reign of Sháh 'Álam, and in every corner of the kingdom people aspired to exercise independence. Alláhábád, Oudh, Etáwah, Shukohábád, and the whole country of the Afgháns (Rohillas) are in the possession of the Nawáb Wazír Ásafu-d daula, and the whole country of Bengal has been subjected by the strong arm of the Firingís. The country of the Játs is under Najaf Khán, and the Dakhin is partly under Nizám 'Alí Khán, partly under the Mahrattas, and partly under Haidar Náik and Muhammad 'Alí Khán Siráju-d daula of Gopamau. The Sikhs hold the whole súba of the Panjáb, and Láhore, and Multán; and Jainagar and other places are held by Zábita Khán. In this manner other zamíndárs have established themselves here and there. All the world is wait­ing in anxious expectation of the appearance of Imám Mahdí, who is to come in the latter days. Sháh 'Álam sits in the palace of Dehlí, and has no thought beyond the gratification of his own pleasure, while his people are deeply sorrowful and grievously oppressed even unto death.” It is to be regretted that these desponding anticipations are not occasionally reverted to by the present fortunate generation.

The author gives us some information respecting himself at the close of his work. He tells us that his progenitors arrived in India as early as the time of Pirthí Ráj, and that he had a large body of foreign cavalry under his command at Sonpat. Some of his ancestors are buried in Sonpat and Ajmír, where they died waging holy wars. In course of time they moved into Ro-hilkhand, and Rája Táj Khán, of the Katehrzái clan, bestowed Maví and twelve other villages in Kábar upon the family. There they have continued to reside, and amongst them have ap­peared several prodigies of excellence and learning. In the course of their genealogy, he states many anachronisms and other im­probabilities, which throw doubt upon the correctness of the family tree.