Fifty princes ruled during about 357 years and one hundred and eleven kept alive the torch of sovereignty throughout the period, approxi­mately, of 4,813 years and passed into the sleep of dissolution.*

The first Rája, (Bhagrat) came to Delhi by reason of his friendship for Rájá Jarjódhan, and fell manfully fighting in the wars of the Mahá­bhárat, 4,096 years previous to the present time. When the cup of life of Rájá Naujah overflowed, the sovereignty fell to Lakhmaniya son of Ráe Lakhman. Nadiyá was at that time the capital of Bengal and the seat of various learning. Nowadays its prosperity has somewhat abated but the traces of its erudition are still evident. The astrologers predicted the overthrow of his kingdom and the establishment of another faith and they discovered in Muḥammad Baktiyár Khilji the individual by whom these two events would be accomplished. Although the Rájá regarding these as idle tales refused to credit them, many of his subjects sought refuge in distant provinces. At the time when Kuṭbu'ddin Aibak held India for Shahábu'ddín, the Khilji took possession of Behár by force of arms, and when he marched upon Bengal, the Rája, escaped in a boat. Muḥammad Bahktiyar, entered Bengal and having amassed enormous plunder, he destroyed the city of Nadiyá and transferred the capital to Lakhnauti. From that time Bengal has been subject to the kings of Delhi.

During the reign of Sultán Tughlaḳ, Ḳadar Khán was viceroy in Bengal. Malik Fakhru'ddín his sword-bearer through greed of power, dis­loyally determined upon the death of his master and plotting in secret, slew him and with pretentious allegations fraudfully possessed himself of the government and refused allegiance to the sovereigns of Delhi. Malik Ali Mubárak, who had been one of the principal adherents of Ḳadar Khán, assumed the title of Aláu'ddín and rose against Fakhru'ddín, and taking him alive in action, put him to death. Háji Iliyás Alái, one of the nobles of Bengal, entering into a confederacy with some others, slew him and took the title of Shamsu'ddín. He is also called Bhangarah. Sulṭán Fíroz set out from Delhi to chastise him and a severe struggle ensued, but as the rainy season was approaching, he concluded a hasty treaty and returned. When Shamsu'ddin died, the chiefs of the army raised his eldest son to the throne under the title of Sikandar Sháh. Sulṭán Fíroz again marched into Bengal but, retreated after arranging terms of peace. On Sikandar's death his son was elected to succeed him and was proclaimed under the title of Ghiyásu'ddín. Khwájah Ḥáfiz of Shíráz sent him an ode in which occurs the following verse:*

And now shall India's parroquets on sugar revel all,
In this sweet Persian lyric that is borne to far Bengal.

A Zemindar of Bengal by name Kánsi fraudfully dispossesed Shamsu'ddín who was his grandson. When he died, his son embraced Islám and took the name of Sulṭán Jalálu'ddín. It was the custom in that country for seven thousand footmen called Páyiks* to patrol round the palace. One evening a eunuch conspiring with these guards slew Fatḥ Sháh and assumed the title of Bárbak Sháh.

Firoz Sháh was also slain by these guards and his son Maḥmúd was raised to the sovereignty. An Abyssinian slave named Muzaffar with the assistance of the same guards put him to death and mounted the throne. Aláu'ddín, an attendant of Muzaffar, in turn, in conspiracy with these guards despatched his master and established himself in power. Thus through the caprice of fortune, these low footsoldiers for a considerable time played an important part in the state. Aláu'ddín placed the administration of justice on a better footing and disbanded the Páyiks. Naṣíb Shah is said to have followed the example of his father in his justice and liberality and treated his brothers with consideration. When Sulṭán Ibrahim (Lodi) met his death in the engagement with Sulṭan Bábar,* his brother and the chiefs of the army took refuge with this monarch and lived in security. Humayún appointed Jahángir Ḳuli Beg to the governorship of the province. When Shér Khán a second time rose to power, he beguiled Jahángír under pretext of an amicable settlement and put him to death. During the reign of Salím Khán (at Delhi) Muḥammad Khán his kinsman, united loyalty to his lord with justice to his subjects. When he fell in action against Mamréz Khán, his son Khizr Khán succeeded him and assumed the title of Bahádur Sháh. Mamréz Khán entered the field against him but perished in battle. Táj Khán, one of the nobles of Salím Khán, slew Jalálu'ddín and assumed the govern­ment. His younger brother Sulaimán, although disloyal at heart, yet for a time read the Khuṭbah in the name of His Majesty of a tyrannous disposition, reigned for some time, after which his sons Báyazíd and Dáúd through misconduct dishonoured the royal privileges of the mint and the pulpit. Thus concludes my abstract.

Praise be to God, that this prosperous country receives an additional splendour through the justice of imperial majesty.