TheHistoryofIndia-VolV.doc

1、The History of India CONTENTS OF VOL. V. PAGE Preface v Corrigendum x Addendum x XXXIV. Trkh-i Saltn-i Afghana, of Ahmad Ydgr 1 XXXV. Makhzan-i Afghn and Trkh-i Khn-Jahn Lod, of Niamatu-lla 67 XXXVI. Humyn-nma, of Khondamr 116 XXXVII. Trkh-i Rashd, of Haidar Mirz Doghlat 127 XXXVIII. Tazkiratu-l Wki

2、t, of Jauhar 136 XXXIX. Trkh-i Alf, of Mauln Ahmad and others 150 XL.Tabakt-i Akbar, of Nizmu-d dn Ahmad, Bakhsh 177 XLI. Muntakhabu-t Tawrkh; or, Trkh-i Badn, of Mull Abdu-l Kdir Badn 477 APPENDIX. A.On the Capture of Nasbn by means of Scorpions 550 B.On Kusdr 557 C.On Fire-worship in Upper India 5

3、59 D.On the Knowledge of Sanskrit by Muhammadans 570 Next Contents of The History of India Next Previous Contents PREFACE. IN this volume the history of the Afghn dynasty is completed. The reign of Humyn is also finished, and the annals of Akbars reign are carried on to the thirty-eighth year.The Af

4、ghn Trkhs are of no great literary value, but they are the best authorities for the period of which they treat. The first of them, the Trkh-i Saltn-i Afghana, has never before been translated; but the other, the Makhzan-i Afghn or Trkh-i Khn-Jahn Lod, is the book translated by Dorn in his work entit

5、led “The History of the Afghns.”Some notices of the first reign of Humyn are given by the Afghn historians, and his overthrow and ex-pulsion are described by them from the Afghn side of the question in this and the preceding volume. The Humyn-nm of the veteran historian Khondamr gives some curious a

6、ccounts of the regulations estab-lished by Humyn in the early part of his reign. This is followed by a few extracts from the valuable Trkh-i Rashd of Mirz Haidar, the brave and adventurous cousin of the Emperor Bbar. The work is a general history of the Mughal Khns, and does not contain much about I

7、ndia; but the Mirz was a vigorous writer, and what he has recorded of his Indian experience is very vivid and interesting. Some few passages have been extracted from the Memoirs of Humyn, written by his personal attendant Jauhar, and translated into English by Major Stewart. But the general history

8、of this reign has been drawn from the Tabakt-i Akbar of Nizmu-d dn Ahmad. Sir H. Elliots intention has thus been carried out; for he had fixed upon the narra-tive given in the Trkh-i Saltn-i Afghana, which proves to have been copied verbatim from the Tabakt.Sir Henry Elliot had made no provision for

9、 the im-portant reign of Akbar, nor did he leave any notes indicating the MSS. he intended to employ. So it has fallen to the Editor to select and translate some history in illustration of this period. The rule of this work has been to prefer original contemporary writers, or, in the absence of actu

10、al contemporaries, those nearest in point of time. This rule reduced the choice to two worksthe Tabakt-i Akbar of Nizm Ahmad, and the Akbar-nama of Ab-l Fazl; for the Muntakhabu-t Tawrkh of Badn is avowedly founded on the Tabakt, and the Akbar-nam of Shaikh Illhdd Faiz Sirhind contains very little t

11、hat has not been borrowed either from the Tabakt or the greater Akbar-nma of Ab-l Fazl. The latter work is of considerable length, and is written in a very ornate style; so the Tabakt seemed best suited to the requirements of this work. It has accordingly been translated in full, and only such passa

12、ges as are trivial and irrelevant have been passed over. The reputation of the Tabakt-i Akbar stands very high in India, and European writers also have joined in its praises. As a contemporary history, it is certainly of very high authority, though it does not exhibit much literary ability. The narr

13、ative is often disjointed and fragmentary, but the language is manly and simple, and in striking contrast to the polished phrases of Ab-l Fazl. The Tabakt extends only to the thirty-eighth year of Akbars reign; the history of the latter end of the reign will be drawn from the works of Ab-l Fazl, Sha

14、ikh Illhdd, and other writers, and will appear in the next volume.In addition to the Tabakt-i Akbar, some extracts have been made from the Trkh-i Alf, a general history compiled under the direction of the Emperor Akbar, and more copious selections have been taken from the Muntakhabu-t Tawrkh of Abd-

15、l Kdir Badn. The latter writer introduces into his work much original matter; and all that he says about the personal affairs of the Emperor and his religious opinions is of great interest. Extracts from the two Akbar-nmas relating to the earlier part of the reign will appear in the next volume; so

16、that although the history of the first thirty-eight years of the reign is comprised in the present volume, it will not be quite complete until those passages are printed. The n-i Akbar is the greatest monument of the reign of Akbar, and a new translation by Mr. Blochmann is now in course of publicat

17、ion in the Bibliotheca Indica, enriched with copious notes. That work supplies many of the deficiencies of the historians, and Mr. Blochmanns labours have happily made it quite unnecessary to do more here with the n-i Akbar than to refer to his valuable production.The notes in the Appendix are entir

18、ely the work of Sir H. Elliot, and are printed exactly as he left them.The following is a list of the articles in this volume with the names of the respective writers:XXXIV. Trkh-i Saltn-i Afghana“Ensign” C. F. Mac-kenzie, and a little by Sir H. M. Elliot. XXXV. Trkh-i Khn-Jahn Lod“Ensign” C. F. Mac

19、-kenzie and Sir H. M. Elliot. XXXVI. Humyn-nmaSir H. M. Elliots munsh. XXXVII. Trkh-i RashdEditor. XXXVIII. Tazkiratu-l WkitMajor Stewart. XXXIX. Trkh-i AlfSir H. M. Elliot and the Editor. XL. Tabakt-i AkbarEditor. XLI. Trkh-i BadnSir H. M. Elliot and the Editor. APPENDIX. The whole by Sir H. M. Ell

20、iot. Next Previous Contents Next Previous Contents CORRIGENDUM. Vol. V. p. 116, lines 4 and 5, dele the words “in all probability.”Next Previous Contents Next Previous Contents ADDENDUM. Vol. IV. p. 289. “Shaikh Zain was one of the most learned men of the time, and translated in an elegant style the

21、 memoirs written by the late Emperor Bbar.” Badn, Text, vol. i. p. 341.Next Previous Contents Next Previous Contents HISTORIANS OF INDIA.XXXIV.TRKH-I SALTN-I AFGHANA,OFAHMAD YDGR. AHMAD YDGR, the author of this work, describes himself in his Preface as an old servant of the Sr kings, and says that D

22、d Shh gave him orders to write a History of the Afghn Sultns, and thus do the same for them as the Tabakt-i Nsir and Z-i Barn had done for the kings of their times. The book commences with the reign of Bahlol Lod, and the last chapter narrates the defeat, capture, and execution of Hm. The author men

23、tions incidentally that his father was wazr to Mirza Askar, when the latter was in command of Humyns advanced guard in his campaign in Gujart; and he also several times names the Trkh-i Nizm and the Madanu-l Akhbr-i Ahmad as the works from which he copied.*The date of the composition of this work ha

24、s not been ascer-tained, but as it was written by command of Dd Shh, who died in 984 H., and as it quotes from the Trkh-i Nizm (Tabakt-i Akbar), which was written seventeen or eighteen years afterwards in 1001-2 H., the probability is, that it was completed soon after the latter date and before the

25、Makhzan-i Afghn, which was written in 1020 H. Like the other Afghn historians, Ahmad Ydgr shows a great liking for marvellous and ridiculous stories, but pays little regard to dates. He gives but very few, and he is incorrect in that of so well-recorded an event as the death of Humyn. The deficiency

26、 of dates may, however, be the fault of the copyist, as blanks are left in the MS. for dates and headings. Sir H. Elliot found the work to “differ much from Niamatu-lla,” but to “give the idea of being subsequent to the Trkh-i Dd.” Still, though it “generally follows the Trkh-i Dd closely,” there ar

27、e occasionally “great differences; details being omitted, and novelties introduced.” The history of the reign of Humyn is copied verbatim from the Tabakt-i Akbar; only one short variation has been discovered.The MS. in the Library of the Asiatic Society of Bengal contains 224 pages, of 11 lines to t

28、he page.By far the greater part of the following Extracts were trans-lated by “Ensign” C. F. Mackenzie, but a few, noted where they occur, are from the pen of Sir H. Elliot.EXTRACTS.* * * * * * *The siege of Dehl by Mahmd Shh Shark.* Mahmd Shark was instigated to attack Sultn Bahlol by his wife, who

29、 was the daughter of Sultn Alu-d dn. She represented to her husband that the kingdom of Dehl had belonged to her father and grandfather, and who was Bahlol, that he should usurp their dominion? If her husband would not advance, she herself would bind on her quiver, and oppose his pretensions.Being g

30、alled by these taunts, Sultn Mahmd came to Dehl in the year 856 H. (1452 A.D.), with a powerful army, and 1000 mountain-like elephants. At that time, Sultn Bahlol was near Sirhind, but Khwja Byazd, and Shh Sikandar Sarwn, and Bb Mat, the wife of Islm Khn, with all the Afghn families, had taken refug

31、e at Dehl. There being but few men, Bb Mat dressed the women in male clothes, and placed them on the battlements to make a show of numbers. One day, Shh Sikandar Sarwn was seated on the wall, when one of Sultn Mahmds water-carriers was taking away some water from a well under the bastion. Shh Sikand

32、ar drew his bow, and sent an arrow* right through the bullock that was carrying the water-bags, and from that time no one dare come near the fort.But as Sultn Bahlol delayed to relieve the garrison, they began to despair of succour; and as the enemy advanced their redoubts and trenches, and discharg

33、ed their shells with such precision that no one could venture out of his house, they were reduced to propose terms of surrender, offering to give up the keys of the fort to any of Mahmds officers, on condition of their being allowed to leave the fort unmolested. Accordingly, Saiyid Shamsu-d dn took

34、the keys to Dary Khn Lod, who had invested the fort, and asked to say a few words to him first in private. When Dary Khn had sent away his attendants, the Saiyid inquired, “What is your relationship to Sultn Mahmd?” Dary Khn replied, “There is no relationship. I am his servant.” The Saiyid then aske

35、d, “How are you related to Sultn Bahlol?” Dary Khn replied, “I am a Lod, and he also is a Lod.”* The Saiyid then placed the keys of the fort before him, saying, “Have regard to the honour of your mother and sister (who are now in the fort), and save the ladies from disgrace.” Dary Khn said, “What ca

36、n I do? Actuated by fraternal motives, I have intentionally delayed capturing the fort, but Sultn Bahlol delays to make his appearance. For the present do you retain the keys, and wait to see what I shall be able to effect in your behalf.”Dary Khn then went to Sultn Mahmd, and explained to him about

37、 the surrender of the keys and their restoration, ob-serving that Bahlol, according to common report, was advancing with a large army, and that it would be better first to pay attention to him; for should he be conquered, Dehl would of itself fall into their hands. The Sultn inquired what had better

38、 be done under the circumstances. Dary Khn suggested that he and Fath Khn should be despatched against Bahlol, so as to prevent his passing Pnpat. This counsel being approved of, they were sent with 30,000 horse and forty war elephants against Bahlol, who by this time had advanced as far as Narela.

39、Mahmds army encamped two kos on the side of Narela, and on the very night of their arrival the enemy twice carried off their bullocks, camels, and horses. Next day, both armies were drawn up in battle array. The army of Bahlol amounted to 14,000 cavalry.* * * * * * *Sultn Bahlols expedition against

40、the Rn, and against AhmadKhn Bhatt.* Some time after, Sultn Bahlol marched out against the Rn, and pitched his camp at Ajmr, where he collected a powerful force.* Chattar Sl, son of the Rns sister, was at dpr with 10,000 cavalry. Kutb Khn advanced towards that place, and fought an action with the ra

41、scally infidel. At first, the Sultns army was repulsed by the impetuous onset of the infidels, and several Afghns obtained martyrdom in that contest; but, in the end, Kutb Khn and Khn-khnn Farmul, determining to sell their lives dearly, advanced to close combat with swords and daggers, and so comple

42、tely routed their black-faced foes, that Chattar Sl was slain in the field; and so many infidels fell, that a pillar was raised of their heads, and streams of their blood began to flow. Five or six elephants, forty horses, and much plunder fell into the hands of the Sultns soldiers, while those of t

43、he Rn took to flight. Subsequently, the Rn made peace, and in dpr prayers were offered and the coin was struck in the name of the Sultn.After that, the Sultn carried his victorious army into Mn-khr. * He plundered and depopulated that entire country, and the army acquired great booty. Thence he retu

44、rned to Sirhind, and after two or three months, advanced with his troops towards Lahore, where he passed some days in festivities.At that time, Ahmad Khn Bhatt,* who had acquired great power in the country of Sind, and had 20,000 cavalry under him, had revolted against the Governor of Multn; whose p

45、etition arrived, representing that Ahmad Khn was plundering the villages of Multn, and that if the Lord of the World would not come to the rescue, he himself would not be able to hold his own in Multn; and that after the loss of Multn, the Panjb would be exposed to ravage. The Sultn, vexed at this i

46、ntelli-gence, appointed Umar Khn, one of his chief nobles, and Prince Byazd, to command an expedition against Ahmad Khn, at the head of 30,000 valiant horsemen. After taking leave of the Sultn in all honour, they moved by continued marches from Lahore till they reached Multn, where they were joined

47、by the Governor, who acted as their guide till they reached the enemys country.Ahmad Khn, proud in the strength and courage of his army, disregarded the Imperialists, and, not thinking it worth his while to move, sent his nephew, at the head of 15,000 cavalry, to oppose them. That youth was desperat

48、ely enamoured of a strumpet, who was indeed surpassingly beautiful, and he never moved out on any excursion of pleasure or hunting without being accompanied by her; and, even on the day of battle, he seated her in an amr, mounted on an elephant, and carried her with him. Naurang Khn, for that was his name, detached Dd Khn with 10,000 cavalry against the Imperialists, and the two parties charged each other with such impetuosity that rivers of blood began to flow. In the end, Dd Khn wa