XIII.

This work was composed in A.H. 730 (1329) by Hamdu-lla bin Abú Bakr bin Hamd bin Nasr Mustaufí* Kazwíní, and was dedicated to the minister Ghiyásu-d dín, the son of Rashídu-d dín, to both of whom our author had been secretary.

It ranks among the best general histories of the East. Reinaud used it for his Mem. sur l'Inde. Hammer-Purgstall calls it in different passages of his works the best, the most faithful, and the most brilliant of all the histories which were composed about that period. He remarks that it contains much matter not found elsewhere, and concurs in the praise bestowed upon it by Hájí Khalfa, that implicit confidence is to be placed in its asser­tions. It is a pity, therefore, that the work is in so abridged a form as to be more useful for its dates than for its details of facts. The authors of the Universal History frequently quote it under the name of “Tarik Cozidih.”

Eleven years after the completion of this history, the author composed his celebrated work on Geography and Natural History, entitled Nuzhatu-l Kulúb, “the delight of hearts,” which is in high repute with oriental scholars.*

The author states that he had undertaken to write in verse an universal history from the time of Muhammad, and had already written five or six thousand lines, and hoped to complete it in seventy-five thousand; but being anxious to bring out a work in prose also, in order that he might have the satisfaction of pre­senting it as soon as possible to his excellent patron Ghiyásu-d dín, whose praises extend throughout two pages, he compiled the present work under the name of Táríkh-i Guzída. “Selected History,” having abstracted it from twenty four different works, of which he gives the names, and amongst them, the history of Tabarí, the Kámilu-t Tawáríkh of Ibnu-l Asír Jazarí, the Nizá-mu-t Tawáríkh of Baizáwí, the Zubdatu-t Tawáríkh of Jamálu-d dín Káshí, and the Jahán-kusháí of Juwainí. Besides these twenty-four, he quotes occasionally several other valuable works, many of which are now quite unknown. In its turn the Táríkh-i Guzída has been used by later writers. The Habíbu-s Siyar quotes largely from it.

The Táríkh-i Guzída contains a Preface, six Books, and an Appendix. The only Books useful for the illustration of Indian history are the third and fourth, in which are comprised the account of the early attempts of the Arabs on the Indian frontier and the history of the Ghaznivide and Ghorian monarchs.

[A portion of the work, comprising the history of the Saljukian dynasty, has been translated by M. Defrémery, and published in the Journal Asiatique;* and another portion, relating to the city of Kazwín, has also been translated by the same writer.*]