Book I.—Comprises an account of the creation, forty prophets, twenty-two ancient sages, Persian and Arabic Dynasties before Muhammad, including the Peshdádians, Kaiánians, Ashkánians, Sassánians, and Ghassánians. In three chapters:—from p. 45 to p. 641.
Book II.—The Khalífas, and the Dynasties which rose under
the 'Abbásides, such as the Táhirides, Sámánians, Buwaihides
or Dailamites, Ghaznivides, Ghorians, Kará-khatáyans, Saljú-
Book III.—The Dynasties of Tátárs, Mughals, and Turks, Osmanlís of Constantinople, Changíz Khán, Tímúr, and their predecessors and descendants, with several other Dynasties, including the Kará-kúínlú and Ák-kúínlú* rulers, and the Safaví Kings of Persia. In seven chapters:—from p. 826 to p. 981.
Book IV.—“On the Rulers of India, previous to the introduction of Muhammadanism, called the Bráhmans of Hind; who, when troubles and disorganization prevailed, made their appearance, as persons endowed with every excellence, for the regeneration of the country. Their appearance is called Avatár, of which there have been nine from the beginning of the creation until now, i.e. from the Fish Avatár down to Krishna Avatár.”
Abstract of the Mahá-bhárata and Harbans Purán (Harivansa); the history of the Súrajbans and Chandarbans Rájás, and those who succeeded them. In two chapters and a conclusion.
Book V.—The Sultáns of India, beginning with the Slave Kings, and ending with Akbar, and an account of his contemporaries, comprising fourteen nobles, fifty-seven poets, twenty-four doctors and philosophers; the rulers of Sind, Multán, Kashmír, Gujarát, Málwa, Dakhin, Jaunpúr, and Bengal; the wonders of the islands and ports near Bengal, including an account of Ceylon, Pegu, Arrakan, Kúch Bihár and Portugal. In four chapters:—from p. 981 to p. 1200. The last chapter contains something about the author himself.
SIZE—Folio, 1200 pages, containing 23 lines in a page.
It will appear, therefore, that Book V., or about one-sixth of the entire work, is devoted to India; but as it contains in that portion little that is not equally well told elsewhere, it is not of much value, except as a useful compendium. It is unfortunate that the only useful portion of this Book, namely, the third chapter on Indian Biographies, is not included in the volume. A more serious hiatus occurs in the exclusion of the whole of Book IV., though there is no break in the paging. This, as well as the biographical portion, may form separate volumes, for they are not included in two copies which I have consulted, though I have found them in a Lucknow copy.
The work is most copious in the legendary history of Persia, which is contained in Book I., comprising more than half the entire volume.
The chief authorities quoted in the work, are the Jámi'u-t Tawáríkh, Rauzatu-s Safá, Táríkh-i Guzída, Lubbu-t Tawáríkh, Táríkh-i Nizámí, the Zafar-náma, Ghaffárí's Nigáristán, and the Bahman-náma; and from these, several chapters are copied verbatim.
Of the few copies which I know of this history, one is in the possession of Sháhzáda Mirzá Ghulám Fakhru-d dín Bahádur, son of the King of Dehlí; the second is in the Asiatic Society's Library, containing only the first three Books; the third is in the Library of Nawáb Siráju-l Mulk, minister of Haidarábád, labelled with the name of Táríkh-i Táhirí, under which it is often quoted by those authors who have consulted the work. There is also one at Mírat and one in the Motí Mahall Library at Lucknow. There is an imperfect copy labelled Shigarf-náma at the latter place. Nawáb 'Alí Muhammad Khán Jhajjarí's copy contains 1193 pp. of 23 lines, and is probably the copy above noticed as belonging to the Sháhzáda. A personal examination shows that this imperfect copy is thus divided:
Book I. to p. 628.
Book II. to p. 860.
Book III. to p. 960.
Book IV.
Book V. p. 960 to p. 1193.
It does not contain the biographies.
Major Stewart mentions it in his Catalogue,* but though he divides it into five Books, it is evident from his table of contents that his volume comprises only the first three Books.
M. Fraehn classes the Rauzatu-t Táhirín among his desiderata.*