[THIS is a modern history of the Emperor Akbar, written by Amír Haidar Husainí Wásití of Bilgrám, whose ancestors came from Wásit in Arabia. The work was compiled at the instance of “Mufakhkharu-d daula Bahádur Shaukat-i Jang William Kirkpatrick,” and so must have been written towards the close of the last century. It bears no date, and unfortunately extends only to the end of the twenty-fourth year of the reign. The author states that he derived his materials from the Akbar-náma of Abú-l Fazl, the Muntakhab of Badáúní, the Tabakát of Nizámu-d dín Ahmad, Firishta, the Akbar-náma of Illáhdád Faizí Sihrindi, the Ma-ásiru-l umará and other works. He adds that he used the four parts of the Inshá-e Abú-l Fazl, and es­pecially mentions the fourth part, expressing his surprise that it has been so little referred to by historians. The Inshá is a well­known work, and has often been printed, but in three parts only; so, Mr. Blochmann says, “it looks as if Amír Haidar's copy of the fourth part was unique.” But a reference made by Sir H. Elliot in p. 413, Vol. V. of this work, shows that he had access to this rare portion of the work. The Akbar-náma of Abú-l Fazl is the authority mainly relied upon, and the author says he “has omitted those superfluities of language which Abú-l Fazl em­ployed for rhetorical purposes.”

“This work,” adds Mr. Blochmann, “is perhaps the only critical historical work written by a native,” and he particularly recommends it to the notice of European historians.*

SIZE—Large 8vo., 843 pages of 15 lines each.]