Worlds of praise are due unto the palace of that World-Creator, who adorning this world by means of His hand of perfect power with the ornament of existence, has unfurled the Standard of Creatorship, and worlds of panegyric befit the shrine of that Supreme Author who has drawn by means of his brush of perfect art the portrait of Life in particoloured lines on the pages of Creation. He (God) is that Wise Sage, who has entrusted the affairs of the management of the world and the people of the world and the good and the right guidance of all classes to the persons of Sovereigns, and who has entrusted into the hands of authority of Sovereigns of this world, the reins of the opening and stoppage of the business of divers classes of mankind. He (God) is that Supreme Ruler of the Universe who, weighing the opening and stoppage of the affairs of mankind and the good and bad of Centre-Sitters in the circle of earth, in the scale of expediency of the world, has left in every clime and every country a ruler.

And blessings full of white effulgence and sacred benedictions are due unto all the messengers of the Palace of His bounty, that is, unto the Prophets, especially unto that Symbol of Mercy of the people of the world, that Herald of the Faithful, that Seal of the Prophets, that Pioneer of the better Path, that Bright Lamp of the right road, the Raisondétre of the creation of this world, the First-born: the Last-disclosed,* that is, the Pride of the Prophets, the Leader* of the Innocent, the Interceder on the day of Judgment, Muhammad the Chosen— Aḥmad the Select; God’s special mercy and peace be on him and his descendants, and the people of his sacred house, and on his successors and all his companions!

After God’s and the Prophet’s praise,* this humble servant who is hopeful of the intercession of the Prophet, namely, Ghulām Ḥusain, whose title is Salīm Zaidpūrī,* so says that since some period, according to chances of time, he has been in the service of Mr. George Udny, who is a gentleman of high position and high rank, of graceful character, of kind heart, mild disposition, praise­worthy deportment and great generosity, who is the Ḥatim* of the world of bounty, the Naushīrwān* of the world of Justice, the Generous man of the age, and who is callous about popularity and praise—

May God always preserve his good fortune, and advance his rank, and elevate his position, and double his life and dignity!— and that he has been in the class of his servants, and has ever been and is still the recipient of his favours. In short, the excellencies-abounding and bounties-springing person of that mine of discernment, is unique and matchless in this age.

Inasmuch as his high mind is always pursuant of the study of histories and travels, and is seeker of all sorts of knowledge and accomplishments, in the year 1200 A.H. corresponding to 1786 A.C., his bent of noble mind turned towards seeking a knowledge of the lives and careers of past sovereigns and rulers who unfurling the standard of sovereignty over Bengal, the Paradise of Provinces,* have now passed into the secret regions of Eternìty. Accordingly, the order was given to this man of poor ability, that whatever he might gather from historical works, &c., he should compile in simple language, so that it might be intel­ligible to all, and might deserve the approval of the elite. This ignorant man, of limited capacity, deeming the execution of the order of his master incumbent on himself, being the slave of order, has placed the finger of consent on the eye, and girded up the loin of effort and venture, collected sentence after sentence from every source, and for a period of two years has devoted himself to the compilation and preparation of this history. And after completing it, he has named it Riyāẓu-s-Salātīn,* according to the date of its completion. It is hoped that this work may merit the approval of all persons of light. It is desired of people conversant with past times, that if they detect any mistake or oversight, they will over­look it, inasmuch as this humble man is not free from shortcom­ings, according to the saying “Man is made up of sins of commis­sion and omission,” and further, that, according to their capacity, they will correct the mistakes and defects, and if they cannot do so, they will be good enough to overlook them.

The plan of this work consists of an Introduction and Four Chapters.

Its arrangement is as follows:—

(a) The Introduction consists of Four Sections.

Section I relates to a description of the state of populousness of the country of Bengal, and of its boundaries and environs.

Section II relates to a description of certain characteristics of that country.

Section III relates to a description of certain cities of that country.

Section IV relates to a brief sketch of the rule of the Raiān of Hindustān.

Chapter I relates to a description of the rule of the Musalmān rulers who as Viceroys held delegated authority over this country from the Emperors of Delhī.

Chapter II relates to a chronicle of the Musalmān Kings who mounting the throne of Bengal, had the Khutbah* of sover­eignty recited after their own names.

Chapter III relates to a description of the careers of the Nāzims* who were appointed to the Nizāmat of this country by the Caghtā’ī* or Mughal Emperors.

Chapter IV consists of two parts:—

Part I being descriptive of the arrival of the Christians, con­sisting of the Portuguese and the French, &c., in the Dakhīn and in Bengal.

Part II being descriptive of the domination of the English Christians over Bengal and the Dakhīn.