THE; ORIGIN MUSALMANS OF BENGAL BY FUZLI RUBBEE I Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/originofmusalmanOOrubb THE ORIGIN OF THE MUSALMANS OF BENGAL nr t m f t THE ORIGIN JE' OF THE Musalmans of Bengal BEING A TRANSLATION OF “ HA QIQA TE MUSALMAN-I-BENGALAH. BY KHONDKAR FUZLI RUBBEE, DEWAN TO H. H, THE NAWAB BAHADUR OF MURSHIDABAD, G.C.I.E. ® alrutta : THACKER, SPINK AND CO. 1895. PRINTED BY THACKER, SPINK AND CO, CALCUTTA. PREFACE. As there are more Musalmans in Bengal than in any other province or part of India, several attempts have been made to find a cause for this preponderance of the Musahnan population of Bengal and also to trace their origin. But as no books have hitherto been published to throw light upon this subject, persons are generally apt, from want of correct information, to form erroneous opinions in the matter, and to offer in explanation any hypothesis which may happen to suggest itself to their imagination. I therefore commenced a diligent search among the pages of the histories and chronicles of Bengal, and obtained much of the requisite information, and i have thus felt encouraged to write the present work. I further gathered as much information as possible from sources other than the above, and have collected and condensed them all in this concise work which 1 have entitled Haqtqaie Musalman-i-Bengalah, or “ The Origin of the Musalmans of Bengal.” Should the reader detect any error in the following pages, I would trust to his indulgence for forgiveness, and would re- quest to be apprised thereof in view to its rectification in the future. PREFACE. I gratefully acknowledge the valuable help rendered to me, in the progress of this work, by my younger brother, Khondkar Ali Hyder, and my friend, Mirza Farrukh Saheb. of Delhi, and also to Moulvie Alqadari 8yed Hasihul Hossain, b.a.. Author of the “ Priceless Pearls,” the “ Lament of Islam,” etc. who rendered valuable help in the translation of this work. KHONDKAR FUZLI RUBBED. ifurshidahad. CONTENTS. ISTKOUUCTION 1 CHAPTER I. Tue Histokical Evidence (J CHAPTER II. Tuaits and Cuakacteristics of the Chief Mdsalman Families in Bengal (X! CHAPTER III. The Physique, Features and Charac’TEristio Traits of THE MUSALMANS OF BENGAL 88 CHAPTER IV. An Account of the Ancient Musalman Families in Bengal 98 CHAPTER V. The Occupation of the Musalmans !07 CHAPTER VI. The Present Condition of the Musalmans of Bengal... 115 Index ... ... r.»3 I THE ORICxIN OF THE MUSALMANS OF BENGAL INTRODUCTION. According to the results arrived at by the Census of 1891 there were 28, 558,3-1:7 Musahnaiis in the })rovince of Bengal. Of this total there were in Bengal Projier 19,577,481, in Behar 3,504,487, in Orissa 92,458, in Chutia Nagpore 257,809, and in the Tributary States under the Government of Bengal (viz., Kuch Bxdiar, the several Hill Tracts and the Native States in Orissa and Chutia Nagpore) 183,670. The entire Musalman population of India was rv- turn'ed in 1891 at fifty millions. Of this aggregate, something less than a half, 23,658,347, Alusalmans, were in Bengal, Behar and Orissa, and 19,577,481 in Bengal Proper alone. Thus the number of Musal- mans in Bengal Proper amounts to more than one- third of the entire Musalman population of India. A 2 THE ORIGIN OF THE Adjoined are detailed abstract statements of the IMnsalman populations as belonging to the several divisions and districts of Bengal. Delailed Statement of the Musulmnns of Bengal according to the lieport of Census, 1891. Divisions. Burdwan 1’ residency Districts. Number of Musalnians in each district. Total. L r I i I Burdwan Bankoora Birbhoom Midnapore Hooghli Howrah •’4-Pergunnahs Calcutta Nadia Jessore Murshidabad Khulna 267,224 45, .312 169,752 171,412 192,685 152,806 690,815 20-3,173 947,-390 1,1.50,135 618,65-3 603,995 999,191 ■dajshahye Dacca f Deen.ajpore Rajshahye I Rungpore -{ Bogra Pubna I Darjeeling 4 J alpaigoori Dacca Faridpore Bakarganj Maimansing Chittagong ■{ Chittagong Noakhali Tippera 802..597 1,0-33,927 1,295,411 661,100 999.809 10,011 222,475 1,47.3.799 1,096,030 1,46->,712 2,396,476 9-24,849 760,597 1,2-24,336 4,214,161 5,025,3-30 6,429,017 2,909,782 MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 3 Divisions. Districts Number of Musalmans in e.ach district. Total. r Patna Gaya Shahabad 201, 08() 22(i,70.') 14S,4.o9 Patna ...f [ Darbhanga Mozatfarpore Saran C'hamparaii 338,607 33', 873 291,013 267,319 1,806,122 r 1 Bhagulpore 195,591 Monghvr 191,770 Bhagulpore ..-J Purnea 805,267 Maldah 384,651 [ Sonthal Pergunnahs 121,086 1,698,365 Summary Bengal Proper Behar ... Orissa ... Chutia Nagpore 19,577,481* 3,504,487 92,946 257,809 Kuch Behar Orissa Tributary States... Chutia Nagpore Tri- 170,746 6,191 butary State 6,733 Grand Total The fact is a])t to escape onliuaiy attention that in Bengal Proper the Maliomniedans liave an actual nu- merical majority of the po])ulatiou. On reference to the Administration R(>])ort of the Bengal Government recently pmblished, I find that the Hindus in Bengal itsell number 18,0d8,d55, wlnlst the Mahommedans are put down at 19,582,o4h, an excess in their favour of more than one million. In Behar the Hindus are in * Including the following divi.sions : — Burdwan, Presidency, Dacca^ Chittagong and Rajshahye, 4 THE ORIGIN OF THE a very lar^e majority, more than 6 to 1, whilst in Orissa and Chntia Xa^pore the Mahomniedans are mere frac- tions of the community. The causes which haye kept them out of Orissa and Cliutia Xagpore haye operated to reduce their numbers in "Western Bengal, where I find the population thus divided between the two great classes : — Hindus ... ... 6,399,969 Ilahommedans ... ... 999,191 Taking the three provinces, I find that in Behar and Orissa, and the districts of Chutia Xagpore and Western Bengal, there are only five millions of Mahom- medans, as against about 32 millions of Hindus. But in Central and Eastern Bengal the projiortion is largely in favour of Mahommedans. For the whole of the territories administered by His Honor the Lieutenant- Governor, the population is thus divided : — Hindus ... ... 45,217,618 Mahommedans ... .. 23,658,347 Central and Eastern Bengal comprise the four divisions or Commissionerships of the Presidency, Bajshahye, Dacca and Chittagong, and in these the population is divided as follows : — Ilahommedans ... ... 18,583,158 Hindus ... ... 11,668,686 In investigating the causes why there are such large numbers of Husalmans in Bengal and also in ascertain- ing their origin, viz., as to whether their ancestors were native Hindus of this country who embraced Islam, or whether they are the descendants of the Musalmans of other countries who came and domiciled here, it is MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. necessary to take into consideration (i) the evidence furnished by history ; (ii) various Musalman traits and characteristics ; (iii) the ethnological features and characteristics of these Musalmans, and (iv) the parti- culars of their families. CHAPTER I. The Historical Evidence. Iris mentioned in Chapter VI[ of Tarikh-i-Fems7da that in the year 600 A.H., corresponding with 1203 A.D., the first Mahommedan conquest of Bengal Avas effected by Bakhtyar Khilji, under the guidance oi Kutbuddin Aibak, the Emperor of India at that time. Mahomed Bakhtyar Khilji was one of the gran- dees of Ghor. He came to Ghazni during the reign of Sultan Ghias-ud-din Mahomed Sam, and after staying there for a short time, proceeded to India and attached himself to Malik Moazzam Hissam-ud-din, who was one of the most eminent grandees of Sultan Shahab-ud-din. Through the influence of this chief he obtained some pergunnahs as jagir in the Doabah, and as rcAvards for his valour and prowess he had the fiefs of Kambila and Betali conferred on him. In character he was very courageous, munificent and prudent. He was freose to give here only a summary of its account as given in the Ferishta, Taha(juat-i- Akhari and the like other histories. Moiz-zud-din Kykobad, son of Nasir-ud-din Boghra Khan, became Emperor of Delhi after the death of Ghias-ud-din Bulban. After his accession to the throne, he gave the reins to his youthful passions and sunk into luxury and sensual pleasures. In his time, the minstrel and buftbon classes, rose into great favour and prominence. Malick Nizam-ud-din found access to him and was made Premier of the State, and the sole power 26 THE ORIGIN OF THE of government fell into his hands. Seeing the Emperor thus lost in luxury and pleasure and totally neglecting State affairs, Malick Nizam-ud-din conceived a desire to seize the throne ; and as a step towards the achievement of this end, sowed the seeds of distrust and discord between the Emperor and his Ameers ; and succeeded in getting rid of most of the latter as were loval and faithful, causing them (by fabricating against them charges of various kinds) either to be put to death, or to be exiled or imprisoned in distant and remote places. When Nasir-ud-din Boghra Khan heard the news of his son’s negligent behaviour and the great power wielded by Malick Kizam-ud-din, he wrote to his son, from Bengal, expostulating with him on the impropriety of his conduct. Finding all his remonstrances ineffectual, he set out in person towards Delhi. Malick Nizam-ud-din, by his machinations, all but succeeded in bringing about a rupture between the father and the son, but hap])ily he failed in his purpose, and at last the father and the son had a friendly meeting. After a brief halt, the father marched back to Benjial, havino; given some wholesome counsel to his son, wdio thereupon returned to his Capital City, Delhi. But as soon as Kasir-ud-din was gone, Kykobad consigned all his good advice to oblivion and relapsed into his former evil ways. When the former heard of his son’s relapse into luxury and sensuality, he despaired both of his life and the stability of his government. About this time Malick Nizam-ud-din was assas- sinated by means of poison, and Kykobad became a MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 27 prey to paralysis and apoplexy as a consequence of his drunken and intemperate habits. During his illness some of the powerful Ameers conceived hopes of seiz- ing the throne ; but the other Ameers coming speedily to an agreement brought his son, named Kyoomoors, who was but three years old, from the harem, and placing him on the throne, styled him Shams-ud-din. Now the Ameers became divided into two factions, the party of the Khiijis sided with Jalal-ud-din Feroze Shah, while that of the Turks took up the cause of Kyoomoors. The })artizans of Jalal-ud-din Feroze Khilji seized the person of Kyoomoors, and wrapped Kykobad, who had still a remnant of life left, in a blanket and, having suffocated him, threw his body into the Jumna. At this time the Imperial sway passed from the hands of the Ghori slaves to the house of Khilji. When Sultan Fakhr-ud-din withdrew his allegiance from the throne of Delhi and established an inde- ])endent sovereignty in Bengal and became the absolute master of the country and its revenues, Mahomed Tughlak was then the Emperor of India. This Em- })eror’s slaughter of the ecclesiastics and Syyads and of the men of the civil and military professions gained him such notoriety, and the country became so filled with his cruelty and tyranny, that numerous families came from Hindustan and went to seek shelter in Bengal. Moreover, during the reign of this monarch severe famines occurred twice in Delhi and its de- pendencies, and all the ])opulation thereof fled to Bengal to avoid the disasters of these famines. In 28 THE ORIGIN OF THE evidence of the occurrence of these events, I quote the following extract from the Tarilch-i-Ferishta : — “ Sultan Mahomed Tughlak was utterly unscrupulous in doing violence and oppression and shedding innocent blood and in persecuting and tyrannizing over God’s people. He acted in this respect both against reason and the laws of Shara, as though he meant to empty tlie world of human creatures. No week passed in which he did not persecute the Unitarian ecclesiastics, Syyads, Soojis, Kalandars or Monhs, writers and soldiers, and in which he did not shed blood. Hidden fires of sedition having blazed upon every side, none of the distant dependencies, except Deoghar and Gujarat, remained in the Emperor’s possession. Being thus provoked, he betook himself the more to the persecution of his people. The report of the Emperor’s tyranny intensified the disgust of the people which augmented the disturbances and the occurrences of disastrous events. As owing to the scarcity of rain, the efforts of the Em- peror in regard to agriculture had no beneficial result, he necessarily gave orders for the gates of the city (Delhi) to be thrown open and for the liberation of the inhabitants whom he had forcibly detained within it. Those who had remained alive dragged themselves to Bengal with their wives and children.” Regarding the same subject, the author of the Tabd- qudt-i-Akhdri writes as follows : — “ Of the distant pi’ovinces, none remained in the king’s pos- session except Deoghar and Gujrat, and disturbances and dis- orders occurred everywhere. Mahomed Tughlak, consequently chafed and fretted and in the bitterness of his temper in- creased the rigours of his persecutions. On hearing the report of the king’s oppressions, the people became highly disgusted, and this contributed to aggravate the unhappy state of affairs. The king made efforts to increase and extend cultivation, but owing to the drought, no benefit accrued from his endeavours (in this direction). At last he was forced by necessity to order the city gates to be thrown open MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 29 and to let the inhabitants who had been detained (within the city) by force and against their will, go whithersoever they chose. Most of the men with their families and dependants betook themselves at this time to Bengal.” In fact, however, throughout the reign of Mahomed Tughlak people from Delhi and its surrounding countrj went to seek shelter in Bengal, as will be evident from the following accounts given in the Tarikh-i- Ferishta (page 139) : — “ Emin-ul-Mulk, falling into delusions and being led away by wild ideas, thought within himself, it seems hard to learn that the king wants to recall his tutor Fateh Kooli Khan from the Deccan, the whole of which country he has brought so perfect- ly under control, and by his efficient administration has reduced the bulk of the population, for the purpose of having him about his person and sending me in his place. But the real intention of the king must hereby be to remove me from these parts and (ultimately) cause my ruin.” At this time it had so happened that a number of clerks were suspected of embezzle- ment and the king had passed sentence of death upon them. These, however, contrived to leave Delhi under the pretext of scarcity; and proceeding to Oudh and Zafara bad, placed them- selves under the protection of Emin-ul-Mulk, who on this ac- count found the King’s mind changed towards himself. At this juncture, seeing no other remedy except pursuing the course of disobedience and crime, he raised the standard of rebellion ; and ostensibly in pursuance of the King’s orders sent for the troops and summoned his brother from Oudh and Zafarabad. Those whom he had summoned were still on their way, when one night Emin-ul-Mulk, issuing from Sagar Dowara, joined them. His brothers, hoisting the standard of daring and boldness came with all speed to the environs of Sagar Dowara with 4,000 horse, and drove before them, towards the place of encamp- ment, all the king’s elephants and horses that were grazing in 30 THE ORIGIN OF THE the adjacent plains. The king in his perplexity summoned the troops of Amroha, Samanah, Kole and Baran, and Khaja Jahan also joined the king with the troops of Delhi. The king drew up his force for battle, and Emin-ul-Mulk and his brothers also having crossed the Ganges came to meet him in the hope that as the people were disaffected with the king they might make common cause with them On the following day they set their forces in battle array in the plains of Kanauj. The king became enraged at their audacity, and determining their utter destruction rode against them in person. Emin-ul-Mulk and his brothers were completely astounded when they were in- formed of this fact, and after making only a short stand took to flight. Emin ul-Mulk himself was captured alive. One of his brothers, named Shukrullah Khan, who had been wounded, was drowned in the waters of the Ganges, and his other brother died in the flight. Some (of the rebel host) with their horses and accoutrements found watery graves, and those "who got to the other shore, more dead than alive, met with their death, being killed by a sea monster. The king declared there was no vice iir Emin-ul-Mulk, but that he had been instigated to it by others. He consequently called him to his presence, and after presenting him with a horse and robes of horror appointed him to the government of extensive territories. From this place the king went to Bahreich, and from thence he sent Khaja Jahair to precede him in the direction of Luckhnawti and to prevent those of Emin-ul-Mulk’s troops who had escaped the edge of the sword from going into that territory.” During the reigns of Sultan Shams-ud-din Bhangra, Sultan Sikandar, son of Sultan Shams-ud-din, Sultan Ghias-ud-din, son of Sultan Sikandar, Sultan Nasir-ud- din and Sultan Barbak, much consideration used to be shown towards the gentry and nobility. For this reason and also on account of other excellent qualities of these sovereigns, numbers of persons of good families came, from time to time, from their own countries and settled MU3ALMANS OF BENGAL, 31 in Bengal.* Detailed particulars of these events will be found in the accounts of the reigns of these rulers. Syud Sharif of Mecca, entitled Sultan Ala-ud-din, and commonly called Hassan Shah Badshah, himself belonged to a very high and respectable family and was unequal- kid in learning and personal excellencies. During his reign Bengal attained to a highly flourishing and pros- perous condition, and innumerable Musalmans of all orders poured into Bengal from every region and clime. This king, in particular, used to confer great benefits on ])ersons belonging to good and ancient families, and throughout Bengal appointed Syyad, Mughal and Afghan animals (officers), and allotted a good deal of rent-free lands to the Moslem religious leaders. When Hosain Shah Shark! of Jamepore reached Koholgaun, in the territory of Luckhnawti, after being defeated and pursued up to the frontier of Behar by Sultan Sikandar, Emperor of Delhi, Ala-ud-din Hosain Shah, who was then ruler of Bengal, received him honourably and maintained him in a way befitting his rank and dignity, and provided him with the means of comfort and luxury, so that the ex-ruler, abandoning his sovereign claims, })assed the rest of his life in Bengal. t Another refugee of rank, Hosain Khan Kirmili, Governor of Saran, came to Luckhnawti, with his adherents and dependants, owing to the hostile feelings evinced towards him by Sultan Sikandar, and took refuge with Hosain Shah, King of Bengal. • See History of Bengal, by C. Stewart, p. 72. + See History of Bengal, by C. Stewart, p. 74. 82 THE ORIGIN OF THE In the reign of Sultan Nasrat Shah, son of Sultan Ala-ud-din Hosain Shah, King Humayoon, having in- vaded India, slew the Emperor Ibrahim Lodi and threw the whole empire into convulsions and confusion, and became master of most parts of Hindustan. In conse- quence of this confusion and the revolution in the gov- ernment, many nobles and principal men of the realm, fled into Bengal to seek the protection of Sultan Nasrat Shah. Even the very family of the late Em- peror Ibrahim Lodi took shelter in this country, and his daughter was married to Sultan Nasrat Shah. These cir- cumstances have been related in the Tarikh-i-Ferishta thus : — “When the King Nasiruddin Mahomed Humayoon slew Ibrahim Shah Lodi, son of Sikandar Lodi, and became master of the vast empire of Hindustan, m'ost of the Afghan nobles fled into Bengal and placed themselves under the protection of Nasrat Shah, and at last Sultan Mahmood, brother of Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, went also to Bengal. All these, according to their respective ranks and positions, and so far as circum- stances allowed, received assignments of suitable pergunnahs and villages ; and the daughter of Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, who through the recent disturbances had been driven into that country, became wedded to King Nasrat Shah.” The practice also prevailed during the reigns of the monarchs belonging to the house of Sher Shah that whichever of the Ameers had to fly from Delhi, he used to come to Bengal for protection, as is thus related in the chronicles of the reign of Shah Mahomed, commonly called Adli Shah : — “ That on the same day Taj Khan Karani, who was one of the principal Ameers of Salim Shah, issuing from the Dewan MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 33 Khana of Fort Gowaliar, was going away, when Shah Maho- med Kirmili met him near the gate and questioned him rela- tive to his condition. Taj Khan told him (in reply): ‘Circum- stances have taken an adverse turn, and I have withdrawn myself from these affairs. Come you also and unite with me.’ Shah Mahomed did not agree to his proposal, and went to make his homage to Adli Shah, and he met there with such fate as he did. While Taj Khan Karani, having quitted the Fort, had been proceeding in the direction of Bengal, Adli was meditating the capture of Ibrahim Khan Sur, who lived in great pomp and grandeur. His wife, who was the sister of Adli, being apprised of this fact, warned her husband of it. Ibrahim Khan then flying from Chatar, set off for the presence of his father, Ghazi Khan, who held the government of Handoon. Adli Isa Khan Niazi went in pursuit, and overtaking him near Kalpi, fighting took place between them, in which Isa Khan being worsted, desisted from furtlier pursuit. Ibrahim Khan Sur collecting an army seized the throne ; and having caused the Khotha, to be read on his own behalf, he pressed from that place upon Agra ; and having become possessed of the adjoin- ing territories, perfectly consolidated his power. He then as- sumed the title of Ibrahim Shah and raised the standard of royalty. " “ Hemu, grocer, the Wazir of Adli, considered the expulsion of King Ibrahim necessary, broke his power near Kalpi. King Ibrahim made use of a pretext for going to his father. Hemu, grocer, advancing upon that place, laid siege to it for three months. But since Mahomed Khan Sur, Governor of Bengal, having raised the standard of hostility, had advanced to sub- jugate Chatar, Jaunpore and Kalpi, Adli recalled Hemu the grocer, who in obedience to this summons then raised the siege. King Ibrahim then went towards the territory of Patna, and having fought an engagement with Kajah Ram Chander, the Rajah of the place, was taken prisoner. Rajah Ram Chander, acting upon the policy of the time, seated him with utmost respect upon his own throne and acted towards him like a servant. After some time quarrels arose between the C 34 THE OEIGIX OF THE Afghans of Bayanah, ■who lived ■within the limits of Eyseen and Ayaz Bahadur, the Governor of Malwa. The former (party in contention) sent a deputation to Eajah Earn Chander, and got Ibrahim Shah among them and made him their chief. They wished to call in the aid of Doorgawati, Eani of Gadhyya, and then make war with Ayaz Bahadur. She accepted their invitation and marched out of her territory. Ayaz Bahadur despatched his emissaries to her and made her turn away from her purpose. When Ibrahim Shah saw that Eani Doorgawati, repenting of her proceedings, had gone back to her territory, he did not consider his longer stay there would be prudent, and consequently went to Orissa, which is one of the outlying territories of Bengal, and there he ended his days. ” Sikandar Shah Sur, who was last of the line of Afghan monarchs, and at the end of whose reign the em- pire passed from the House of Sher Shah to that of Timoor, abandoning his throne, fled into Bengal, after being defeated by Jalal-ud-din Akbar, as would appear from the following extract from Tarikli-i-Ferishta : — “ It so happened at that time that Humayoon Badshah bent his course towards the Panjab, and Tatar Khan fled from Eulitas to Delhi en route for the Panjab. The Mughal follow- ers of Humayoon having advanced up to Lahore dispersed the Afghans, and having extended their conquest up to Sirhind brought those tracts under their control. Sikandar Shah sent an army of fifty thousand troops (or, according to other ac- counts, one hundred thousand Afghans and Eajput horsemen) under the command of Tatar Khan and Hybat Khan for the expulsion of the Chaghtai host. “ The Afghans were totally routed, and having turned their horses’ heads they did not draw rein until they arrived at Delhi. Although Sikandar Shah was perfectly aware of the hostile feelings of his Ameers, yet, acting upon the require- ments of necessity, he assembled an army sixty thousand strong and marched towards the Panjab in 962 A.H. He encountered MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 35 Byram Khan, Turkoman, who was in the retinue of Prince Jalal-ud-din Mahomed Akbar near Sirhind, and, being put to the rout, retired to the mountains of Swalak. Thus for the second time the metropolitan cities of Delhi and Agra passed into the hands of the Ameers of King Humayoon, and the world became so adorned with beauties and charms as to vie with the gardens of Paradise. Through the well-aimed efforts of Byram Khan, Turkoman, Sikandar Shah Sur was dislodged from the mountain of Swalak, whence he fled towards Gaur and Bengal. He took possession of those territories, and after a short time died there, and Taj Khan Karani became the ruler of Bengal in his place,” In the same history the following particulars are given in the accounts of the reign of the Emperor Akbar : — “ After the siege of the Fort of Mankot had lasted for six months, Sikandar Shah was reduced to the necessity of soliciting the deputation of a trustworthy nobleman to him, so that after having submitted his terms through him he might act according as he might be ordered. Accordingly Khan-i-Azam Shams-ud-din Mahmad Khan Atka went to the fort. Sikandar told him, ‘ Owing to the multiplicity of my crimes I cannot venture into the King’s presence, but I wish to send my son Shaikh Abdur Rahman to the Court and myself to withdraw to Bengal and live there in submission.’ Khan-i-Azam Shams- ud-din came back and conveyed these proposals to the King, who accepted them. Shaikh Abdur Rahman came to the King’s presence in the month of Ramazan 964, and offered some elephants as a present, and Sikandar Shah took the opportunity to go to Bengal.” In order to weaken the power of the learned men and other leaders of Islam, the Emperor Akbar used to collect them and send them away to Bengal, as the following fact, written by Abdul Kader Badwani in his accounts 36 THE ORIGIN OF THE of the Emperor Akbar on page 278 of MantahKahat Tawarikh, shows : — “In the reign of the Emperor Akbar, the learning itself, which men acquired, became the cause of their misfortune and decline. The Emperor used to order all the learned and holy men and spiritual leaders of the people to be brought into his Court and to enquire himself into the means of their subsistence and profession, and, closely conversing with them both in public and private with usual regard, settled some land upon them as he thought proper. Those whom he knew to be in the habit of gathering disciples or keeping company with them in the AJnjlis (assembly) Sama or Knlalic (an assembly in the form of a circle when religious songs are sung to excite the hearers) he held them to be professional traders, and either shut them in the forts or transported them to Bengal and Behar, and things of this sort were always happening during his reign. All the aged and frail peers and sheiks (holy and pious men) were objects of much more pity than the other people ; but the details of all this are too lengthy to be mentioned here. “ In obedience to such royal orders the Sii/is, Sahib Sama (i.e. devotees and saints who held Uajlis-i-Sama and devotions towards God) were brought under the control and order of the Hindu ofiBcers, and were reduced to such misery that they forgot their own position ; and being exiled from their homes entered into the mouse-holes, that is, hid themselves in nooks and corners, and their circumstances were completely changed.” Baud Shah, son of Soliman Shah, was the last of the kino-s of Bensal. Baud Shah had a numerous retinue of servants and followers, and his power and resources were so great that he had 40,000 well-mounted cavalry, 300 elephants and 140,000 infantry including artillery- men, musqueteers, archers and bowmen ; he had besides 20,000 pieces of ordnance, most of which were MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 37 battering guns, a considerable number of war vessels and other implements of war . — From Riaz-us-Salatin. In the reign of Akbar, and in the year 984 A. H. he was captured by Khan Jahan Khan in Bengal and put to death. After this event, Bengal came under the away of the Mughal or Tiniurian dynasty. Henceforth Nazims or Governors of Turanian and Arab origin used to be appointed by the Court of Delhi to govern Bensal. During the administration of these Musahnan Nazims and rulers, large numbers of Musalmans came from various countries and settled here, more especially during the administr ation of Nawab Ameer-ul-Omara Shaista Khan. Owing to his benefactions towards persons of birth and family, the country became inhab- ited by a large number of Musalmans of noble origin, and he conferred upon them numerous estates in the shape of freehold villages and tenements. During the government of Suja-ud-din Mahammad Khan, Nadir Shah, King of Persia, invaded India and sacked Delhi and other cities. Most of the inhabitants of Delhi and the surrounding parts fled at that time into Bengal to seek the protection of Suja-ud-din Mu- hammad Klian. This ruler accorded lil)eral treatment to these refugees and conferred great benefits upon them. This gave a new impetus to the influx of immi- grants, as would appear from the following extract from Tarikh-i-Mansoori : — “ No sooner did any stranger come into his dominions than he used to get notice both of his arrival and whether the new- comer was a person of good lineage and ability. After the arrival of such a person at Mursliidabad, he used to wait for three days to see if the stranger possessed any interest with any 38 THE ORIGIN OF THE of the officers of tlie Court ; and if so, if anyone spoke of him, he used to send for him and promote his objects ; otherwise on the fourth day he himself, making mention of the stranger, remarked that perhaps none of the audience had familiarity or acquaint- ance with him, or else some one must have sp>oken about him. Even then, if anyone gave sufficient information about him, so much the better, or else he would himself send some one to pro- cure information concerning him, and also to carry the message to him that, as he had chanced to come to his dominions, he might as well come to see him. He then secretly procured in- formation as to his manners and means ; and after having become acquainted with all the necessary particulars regarding him, he questioned him regarding his intentions. If he thought that he purposed adhering to him and wanted employment, he received him into his service in a most cordial and gracious manner, and forthwith supplied him with moderate funds for his necessary expenses, intimating to him at the same time that in this country such a small sum suffices (to cover all one’s necessary expenses) ; besides, God Almighty has the power to give yet more. It was his wonted practice that whenever he sent a present to any person, if the bearer accepted any reward or gratuity from the receiver, he took to task both the bearer and the receiver for it. In fact he himself treated his servants with such a degree of liberality that hardly any of them felt any desire for reward. All tliose courtiers who were known to him by sight used to receive a tray full of dainties and delicacies from the hospitable kitchens of this generous lord, in such order that some received it daily, some on alternate days, and others bi-weekly. This hospit- able practice never ceased so long as he lived. He used to keep by himself a note-book, the leaves of which were made of ivory, containing a memorandum of the names of such of his attendants and courtiers as were personally known to him. Every night before going to bed he used to look over these pages, and selecting some of the names therefrom, put down against each, with his own pen, such a sum as was commen- surate to the individual’s condition, sums which were often MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 39 large ; and having issued orders to his revenue officers for the payment of each item of these suras out of the proceeds of the crown lands, apprised the gratuitants or their agents re- specting the donation. If he (the receiver of the gift) did not divulge the fact, he rose higher in his regard and esteem ; but whoever did the contrary lost his confidence on account of his untrustworthy behaviour, and without showing any harshness towards him he used to efface the names of such delinquents from the note-book in question and substituted other names in their places. He continued in this practice throughout Lis life.” Besides these foreign settlers who came to Bengal by land, as indicated in the foregoing pages, numerous people came to this country also by sea. Hooghly was then the port of Bengal and an anchor- age for ships. Most of the comers, from, and returners to, Arabia and other western countries embarked or dis- embarked at this port. The inhabitants of Bengal and the upper parts of Hindustan as far as Delhi em- barked here when going on pilgrimages to Mecca and other places of sanctity. Moreover, peo{)le from Iran, Khorasan, Iraq, Arabia and Egypt, who chose to come to Hindustan or Bengal by sea, disembarked here. Thus in process of time Bengal became inhabited by large numbers of foreign Musalmaiis. To illustrate these facts I mention here the circum- stances of a few of those families who came by this route into Bengal, and proceeding from here to Delhi and other places rose to eminence and distinction. (1) The Royal House of Oudh . — The founder of this dynasty, Mahomed Amin, styled Nawab Burhan-ul- 40 THE ORIGIN OF THE Mulk Saadat, Khan Bahadur, who belonged to one of the noblest families of Nishapore, came with his father from that place to Bengal and stayed here for some time. After the demise of his father whose tomb still exists in Azimabad (Patna), he proceeded to Delhi and there rose to eminence. The author of Imad-vs-Saadat relates that Mirza Kasir had two sons by his wife, who was the daughter of Syyad Sams-ud-din, of Kishapore. One was named Mir Mahomed Bakar and the other Mir Mahomed Ameen. In the year 1118 A.H., Mirza Kasir with his son, Mir Mahomed Bakar, arrived at Bengal on board a ship, and fixed his residence in Azimabad, and used to receKe a maintenance allowance from the Government of Shuja-ud-Dowlah Shuja-ud-din Mahomed Khan, Kazim of Bengal. About this time ]\Iir Mahomed Bakar contracted matrimony, and had a son born to him. This boy afterwards received the title of Bashir Jang during the ascendancy of his uncle Burhan-ul-Mulk, and was appointed to the Suba- darship of Kashmir by the King of Delhi. In the year 1120 A.H., Mir Mahomed Ameen, who had re- mained in the territory of Kishapore, came to Bengal with a view to see his venerable father and brother, and met them. Some time later, Mirza Kasir died at Azimabad. After the demise of the father both the brothers left Bengal and proceeded to Shahjahanabad, where gradually they attained to pre-eminent positions. Mir Mahomed Ameen received from Mahomed Shah Badshah the post of a Commander of seven thousand with the title of Burhan-ul-Mulk Saadat Khan, and was appointed to the Subadarship of Oudh. MUSALMAKS OF BENGAL. 41 (2) The Family of Hakim JJlvi Khan, the Royal Physician . — Hakhim Mir Mahomed Hadi, the venerable uncle of Nawab Ulvi Khan, came into Bengal by sea, and was introduced to the presence of Suja-ud-din Mahomed Khan, through the agency of the Foujdar (Commandant) of Hooghly and obtained a situation at the Court. Ulvi Khan had also come with his uncle and was then of a tender age and under his tuition. In course of time Hakim Mir Mahomed Hadi became famous for his learning and reputed for his skill in physics. As Mahomed Shah Badshah wanted an eminent physician and had learnt that the Nazim of Bengal had a skilful medical man about him, he wrote the Nazim to send him to his Court. But as neither Mir Mahomed Hadi was agreeable to go to Delhi, nor was the Nazim, having regard to the good of his own health, willing to part with him, he therefore answered the King to the etfect that Hakim Mir Mahomed Hadi owing to age and imfirmity was incapable of undertaking a journey to Delhi, but that he was sending the Hakim’s nephew, who had studied medicines under his uncle and was equally proficient in the art. Nevertheless, in case of necessity, Mir Mahomed Hadi would go in person. Ulvi Khan went with the Nazim’s petition to the King at Delhi, and the eminence to which he rose and the fame that he acquired there is more evident than the sun itself {i.e. too well known to need any mention). The rest of the family of these Hakims remained in Murshidabad and live there up to this day. Nawab Muzaffar Jang, the Naeb Nazim of Bengal, of whom an account is 42 THE ORIGIN OF THE to be found in the various histories, belonged to this family. (3) The Armenian Settlers in Bengal . — Ages ago the ancestors of these Armenians, flying from the per- secution and violence of some one of the kings of Iran, had come from that country to Bengal by wav of the sea and settled here, and their descendants have ever since continued to reside in this countrv. In a similar way persons belonging to various family stocks and branches have come from different realms and regions and domiciled here. As I have shown in the foregoing pages that Musalman immigrants from the metropolis of Delhi and other places largely stocked the population of Bengal and adopted this country as their own, it appears therefore necessary to take some notice of the political features of those countries from which Musalmans originally came to Delhi. All Central and Western Asia from Khorasan and Afghanistan to Bagdad, the seat of the Caliphate and Room, which w'ere under Moslem domination, fell into tumult and convulsions owing to the irruption and invasion of Chinghiz Khan and his decendants. From the \’iolence and tyranny of these invaders the life of every man, whether high or low, was in jeopardy. They effaced all trace of Musalmans from every country that fell under their sway and made indiscri- minate slaughter of the Musahnan inhabitants without anv regard to sex or age. Consequently these people fled to other countries for safety ; and because at that time there was a powerful Musahnan government in India, most of the refugees therefore fled into this MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 43 realm. This fact has been related thus in the TahCi- quat-i-Nasiri* : — “Notwithstanding that by the will of the Almighty and the decrees of destiny the turn of sovereignty passed unto Ching- hiz Khan, the accursed, and his descendants, after the Kings of Iran and Turan, and that the whole of the land of Turan and tlie East fell under the sway of the Mughals and that the authority of the Mahomniedan religion departed from those regions, which became the seat of Paganism, the kingdom of Hindustan, by the grace of Almighty God and the favour of fortune, under the shadow of the guardianship of tlie Sharnsi race, and the shade of the protection of the Al-timishi Dy- nasty, became the focus of the people of Islam, and the oi’bit of the possessors of religion ; and as from the extremity of the territories of Chin, Mawarannahar, Tukharistan, Zawul, Ghur, Kabul, Ghaznin, Iraq, Tabaristan, Iran, Khurasan the Dyar-i-Bakr and Mansil as far as the boundaries of Hum and Sham, fell into the hands of the infidel Mughals, and not a trace of the Mahomniedan Malnks and Sultans of Islam remained in these countries ; The Almighty’s mercy be upon them, and may He long preserve the Nasiriah dynasty.” It is further written in the same work that after the events of the year 614, in Khorasan, owing to the invasion and irruption of Changhiz Khan Mughal, Jalal-uJ-din Khwarazm Shah, being defeated and over- thrown by the infidel forces, in the year 616 came towards Hindustan. The same author also narrates as follows : — “ From the very outset of his reign and the dawn of the morning of sovereignty in the congregating of eminent doctors of religion and law, venerable Syyads, Maliks, Ameers, * Translation of TahdrituU-i-Ndsiri, by Major H. G. Raverty, pp. 869 44 THE ORIGIN OF THE Sadars and (other) great men, the Sultan used yearly to expend about ten millions ; and people from various parts of the world he gathered together at the Capital City of Delhi, which is the seat of the Government of Hindustan, and the centre of the circle of Islam, the sanctuary of the Mandates and in- hibitions of the religion of M ihamet, the kernel of the Maham- madan religion, the marrow of the Ahmadi belief, and the tabernacle of the eastern parts of the universe ; guard it O ! God, from calamities and molestations. This city, through the number of the grants and unbounded munificence of that pious monarch became the retreat and resting place for the learned and virtuous and the excellent of the various parts of the world ; and those who, by the mercy of God the Most High, escaped from the toils and the calamities, sustained by the provinces and cities of Ajam, and the misfortunes caused by the (irruption of the) infidel Muchals, made the capital the asylum of the uni- verse — of that Sovereign their asylum, refuge, resting place, and point of safety ; and up to the present day, those same rules are observed and remain unchanged, and such may they ever continue.” Ferishta, writing on the same subject, relates as fol- lows : — “At that time, the royal palace was fitted up and adorned, in a style of kingly magnificence, with gold and silver (furniture and ornaments). Persons of dignified position, Syyads, ecclesias- tic, illustrious Chiefs, and twenty-five Princes of Iraq, Khorasan and Mawarannahar, who had come to India owing to the dis- turbances and disorder caused by Chinghiz Khan and lived under his protection, and also many a Rai and Raja stood at a respect- ful distance from his throne with folded arms. It is related in the Mulhiquat-i-Masiri, written by Shaikh Ainuddin of Bijapore, that this exaltation and good fortune alone were suf- ficient for (the gratification of) Sultan Ghias-ud-din Balban that those ex-rulers who had come to India in the reigns of the preceding monarchs and moreover fifteen Princes from Turkis- tan, Mawarannahar, Khora.sau, Iraq Azarbaijan, Khwarezm MUSALMA2JS OF BENGAL. 45 Eoom, and Sham, who having been ejected from their seats of power by the aggressions of Chinghiz Khan, had arrived at Delhi during his own reign and been placed in positions of honor and affluence, all stood with utmost joy and cordiality with folded arms before his throne except two princes who sat at the foot of the throne, as they were descended from the Abbaside Caliphs. Whenever any of the princes or illustrious personages of the age happened to come to India during his reign, he was wont to signify his joy and offer thanks to God, and he would assign to each of these a separate quarter of the city (Delhi), 80 that from their locations fifteen (additional) wards came into existence in Delhi, viz. (1), the Abbaside quarter (2), Sanj- ari quarter (3), Khwarizmi quarter (4), Deleini quarter (5), Ulvi quarter (6), Atabaki quarter (7), the Ghori quarter (8), Chingbizi quarter (9), Roomi quarter (10), Sunkari quarter (II), Yainani quarter (12), Mosali quarter (13), Samarkandi quarter (14), Kashghari quarter, and (15) Khatai quarter. Because scions of illustrious families and most distinguished personages of the age representing the sword and the pen, and masters of music and art, such as had no match in the four quarters of the world, were assembled at his Court, it therefore was said to possess a decided superiority over that of (Sultan) Mahmood or (Sultan) Sanjar. It is said that all persons of learning and erudition and the doctors of religion assembled at the residence of his eldest son, who was commonly called Khani-Shahid ; while the musicians, ministers to pleasure and story-tellers, wits’ jesters and bufoons gathered at the assembly of his other son named Boghra Khan and formed royal pleasure parties. ” In the second chapter of the same history is narrated as follows ; — “During the reign of Sultan Mahomed Tughlak, from its commencement to its termination, great and eminent men, artists and those whose fortunes had been wrecked, came to Hindustan, from Iraq, Khorasan, Mawarannahar, Turkistan and Arabia, in the hopes of receiving kind and benevolent 46 THE OEIGIN OF THE treatment from him, and in fact obtained greater favours than their most sanguine expectations led them to look for. ” It will be manifest from the citations made succes- sively in the preceding pages, from various historical works, that owing to the disruption of the Kingdoms of Arabia, Iran, Turkistan and Khorasan, the high and low people of those realms came mostly to India ; and more especially the chief persons of those countries, during those troublous and disastrous times, had to fly to India for the safety of their lives and to avoid dis- honour from their enemies. Most of such refugees flock- ed to Delhi and placed themselves under the protection of successive monarchs. It has also been shown that during the reigns of the Ghori, Khilji, Tughlak, Syyad, Lodi and Mughal emperors, people continued to come into Bengal from Delhi and other parts of India, and it is the unanimous verdict of historians that during the reign of Sultan Kykobad, owing to the revolution of Government, and in the reign of Sultan Mahomed Tughlak, on account of his atrocities and the frequent recurrence of famines, the whole population of Delhi, as it were, came to Bengal. The kings and rulers of Bengal ever treated these comers with consideration, and provided for each in a manner suitable to his con- dition, either by enrolling him in the State service or by granting him rent-free lands. In this way, when the immigrants gradually swelled into large numbers, they then dispersed over the whole face of the country and fixed their residences and retreats in every part of it. The members of these foreigners received daily accessions from births ; and from the congregations of MUSALMAKS OF BENGAL. 47 their families, towns, villages and hamlets rose into existence. The kingdom of Gaur in Bengal had long continned very powerful and prosperous, so much so that it had no rival in wealth and affluence. The city of Gaur was extensive and populous. It teemed with noble and high families and persons noted for learning, erudition and genius. A large standing ai-my was also located there. All these various classes of people were Musal- inans of foreign origin. The city, moreover, con- tained various other classes of Musahnans, such as ])i'ofessional men, tradesmen, artizans, &c., &c. In short, while there was a Musalman Government, there were all the necessary appenages thereto, as also men in adequate numbers and of sufflcient ability to man and conduct the machinery of Government. It would be simply preposterous to think that the kings were the only Musahnans in the country, and that thej’ had no IMusalman courtiers or officers ; or even if they had, that they were only the new Musalman converts of this country.* * “ Raja Kanis. — Immediately after the above-mentioned event, the zemindar, having assumed the title of Raja, advanced to Pandua, where he was greeted by the Hindoos as the restorer of their religion and Sovereign of Bengal ; but after being seated on the throne, he found that the Mahommedans in his dominions were so numerous, and so much superior in bravery to his natural subjects, that he judged it requisite to treat them with mildness and affability : he therefore allowed many of the Afghan chiefs to retain their estates, and granted pensions to the learned and devout of that religion. By these means he enjoyed a quiet and peaceable reign of seven years, and died in the year 794, A.D. 1392.” — History of Bengal, by C. Stewart, p. 60. 48 THE ORIGIN OF THE The former rulers of Bengal, during their successive reigns, directed their best endeavours to induce men belonging to their own race and creed to come from all parts of the world and settle in their dominions, with a view to increase and strengthen their own power and position ; and with these men they peopled towns, vil- lages and hamlets. Moreover, the civil and military officers of foreign origin who were appointed by these rulers, each had Musalman relations and followers of his own. This state of things prevailed throughout the very long period that the kingdom of Gaur sub- sisted ; but on the dissolution and disruption of this kingdom at the establishment of the Mughal dominion, Gaur became involved in the general ruin ; and its population was dispersed in all directions, and each in- dividual established himself in those villages and rural parts where he could get a foothold, and there made some shift to maintain himself. Those, who owned free- hold tenements or the like, remained content with such possessions and passed their lives in retii*ement and tranquillity, while those of the military profession who were destitute of means took to agriculture to gain their subsistence. The above particulars have reference to those Musal- mans who came to Bengal previous to the country coming under the sway of the House of Timur. After the supremacy of the Mughals was estabhshed, their own people began to come to Bengal. Numbers of these people, of all descriptions and orders, came from time to time, into this country, in various ways and estab- lished themselves in all the parts, in a manner suitable MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 49 to their individual conditions. During the reigns of these inonarchs most of the civil and military func- tionaries were of foreign origin, and the practice that previously obtained, of encouraging the settlement of tlie foreign Musalmans of noble and gentle birth, in this country, was also followed by the Mughal emperors, e’.e., they, too, caused the learned and the gentry to settle in various parts of the country by granting them madadma-ash and jagirs and treating them with regard and consideration.* They, moreover, observed • Ahharnamah, Vol. II, tells of the Afgan invasions that vrere repeat- edly made on the eastern countries (Bengal). When Solaman Shah, the then ruler of Bengal, Behar and Orissa, died and was succeeded by Daood Shah, Akbar the Great, Mogul Emperor, directed Monaiin Khan, Khan Khanan, to invade Bengal in the 17th year after His Majesty’s accession to the throne. In the I9th year Khan Khanan invaded Bengal, and the defeated King Daood Khan with his followers fled from Tanda (the capital of Bengal near Gorh) towards the south-east and north of Bengal (Hoogly, Dacca and Denajpore), Daood himself flying to Satgaun or Hoogly. In the 21st year Daood Shah was captured by Khan Jahan the then Subadar of Bengal, and put to death. The people tendered their submission to the Imperial Government of the Moguls, and thus peace and prosperity was established throvighout the country — a country which was designated as the hot-bed of war from time immemorial on account of the confusion and disturbance which so violently agitated it. In the 22nd year, the deceased King’s mother with all her dependants made an appeal to the Emperor for protection and safety, and proposed to be permitted to appear personally before His Majesty when on tour in the neighbourhood of Tanda. Khan Jahan accepted her pi-ayers and re turned to his own station. In the 23rd year, Khan Jahan reported to His Majesty that the people of Bengal had agreed to obey the Imperial power ; and finding therein the way to their prosperity and welfare, they gladly placed themselves under His Majesty’s benignant protection and care ; and Daood’s mother with all her adherents and Mahmud Khan and many other insurgent Afghans came under the royal protection. In the 28th year of His Majesty’s reign (Vol. II, Al-harnamah) it is men- tioned that when Bengal was invaded for the third time, wise and experi- enced men were employed to win the hearts of the people with sweet and D 50 THE ORIGIN OF THE benignity and generosity in dealing -with the Musal- mans of the preA’ious Governments, and confirmed most of them in those grants-in-lands and stipends which they formerly enjoyed. The Mughal Emperors and Governors, like the former rulers of Bengal, introduced into the country people of their own nation attractive speeches, with persuasive eloquence and with hopeful assur- ances. By means of words which acted like enchantment, they succeeded in bringing the people to submit to the Emperor. Khaladin Khan first swore fealty to the imperial authority, and afterwards Mirza Beg, Jahazi Khan and many others proffered, through proxy, to submit to the Imperial Government. It was agreed that they would give up fighting and go to their homes, and then after some time they should appear before the Barbar to make good their promise by doing good services. Mirza Beg, Khaladin Khan, Wazir Jamil and others presented themselves for the promised service as a proof of their declared submission. In the 29th year, when Shahbaz Khan was appointed Subadar of Bengal and Sadik Khan went from Bengal to the Emperor, Wazir Jamil, Khaladin Khan, Furrokh and others who had sworn allegiance, but on account of their previous misconduct had always lived in fear, accompanied Sadik Khan in the hope to obtain forgiveness through his intercession from His Majesty. As soon as the news reached His Majesty, Mahandas was sent to direct Sadik Khan to return to Bengal and join Wazir Khan then fighting with Katloo Khan in Orissa ; and to bring the refugees to the Court with hopes of imperial forgiveness. He met with Sadik Khan at Tanda, and sent him forthwith to join Wazir Khan as desired by His Majesty. Sadik sent his son Zahed to accompany the refugees to the Court and to afford consolation to them. In due time they reached the capital, and obtaining admission into the imperial presence, received His Majesty’s forgiveness and were honoured with various gifts. It is put down again in the accounts of the same year (Vol. II, Akharnamah) that Masoom Khan, one of the powerful grandees of Bengal, was advised to submit, and thereupon did so. Isa Khan, Zemindar of Sonargram, sent his men to Sadik Khan with hopes to obtain the royal forgiveness, and it was settled that Masoom Khan should be sent to Hejaz, and he himself should be a faithful servant to His Majesty and send one of his near relatives to the Court as a hostage, together with some choice presents and should return whatever he had wrung from the royal army during the battle. His Jlajesty accepted the aforesaid terms, and, accordingly, Isa Khan despatched to the capital the MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 51 and creed, and caused them to be domiciled and settled all over it, and thereby imparted security and stability to their rule.* It was not the custom with the IMusalman comers to return to their native lands after a sojourn in this coun- try ; but, on the contrary, it was invariably their prac- tice to permanently settle in any part of the country where they found a place which ])romised comfort and safety and where they could obtain means of livelihood. There are no evidences on record which disprove the above facts and assertions, or which show that the natives of this country, either from compulsion or free will, were converted to Islam, in any appreciable number elephants, the cannons and tho treasures wliich ho had captured. Though he did not send Masooni Khan to Ilejaz ho pnt a chock upon his turbulent and mischievons tendencies. In the 30th year Shah Baz Khan, Subadar of Bengal, by means of loving and endearing words and assurances, won the hearts of the people and obtained their obedience, and thus he was very soon able to bring the refractory to obedience and submission, and thus peace and prosperity smiled in tho land, and disorders and disturbances entirely left it. Referring to the events that happened in the 37th year, the same authority states that the people of the eastern part of the country became thoroughly faithful and submissive and the province of Orissa was brought under subjection. The zemindars appealed for protection and safety, which was afforded to them, and the whole country made explicit sub- mi.ssion. The sons of Katloo Khan, Khaja Soleman, Delawar Khan, Jelal Khan, Bahadur Ghor, Alif Khan, Abdul Gaffoor, Malaik Hybat, Malaik Daood, Malaik Sekandar, Habib Khan, Darya Khan, Shujadil and Mewa Khan, chieftains of Bengal, obtained Ilis Majesty’s protection. * “ This system of military service was perfectly congenial to the wishes of tho Mughals ; and every chief, in succession, established him- self and his dependant in the district, to which he had been first appointed ; and the late governor, Khan Jahan, being only solicitous about extirpating the Afghans, allowed them to continue in undisturbed possession"— History of Bengal, by 0. Stewart, p. 107.” 52 THE ORIGIN OP THE at a time, or that the descendants of the kings of Ganr or that those Musalmans whose arrival in this country is recorded in history or the descendants of such, ever quitted Bengal. In giving an account of the Musalmans of Mur- shidabad. Sir W. W. Hunter, in his Statistical Acconnt of Mursliidahad, p. GO, makes an assumption in the following words : “ It is said that the great IMahommedan families returned to Delhi or to Persia, when Bengal became subject to the English.” Sir W. W. Hunter’s remark on this point is as erroneous as un- tenable. It is an obvious fact that just before the con- quest of Bengal by the English the Government of the land being in a state of disorganization, a strong and effi- cient government was most desirable. Therefore, when Bengal came under the British rule, which restored tranquillity to the country and gave protection to its ])eople, the great Mahommedan families could hardly be so discontented as to retire to Delhi or to Persia ; while the spirit of toleration which is a characteristic of the English nation, not only afforded them liberty of faith and religion, but allowed them to be governed by their owm laws and principles. The service of State, which causes its subjects to rise in position and wealth, attracted the great Mahommedan families to remain in Bengal, as, after the English became the rulers of the countrv, the Mahommedans, up to a recent time, used to hold posts of honor and trust and enjoyed a great share in the administration of the country. But the introduction of the English language into the country, and the prejudice of the Musalmans, which MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 53 they blindly formed against that language, and lastly the new system of distributing Government appoint- ments, deprived them of their former position and posts, and ultimately brought them to their present depth of poverty and oblivion. One who has minutely studied the history of the Musalmans of Bengal, will see that the great Mahommedan families who came to Murshidabad from the time of Murshid Kuli Khan, the Nawab Nazim of Bengal, are still largely to be found in the towns of Murshidabad, Patna, Purnea, Dacca, Hoog- ly, &c., or in the villages of these districts ; and that the Sanads, which were conferred upon them by the ancient rulers of the country, are still preserved and the landed property (though split into very small pieces) which they received as grants from those rulers, is, up to this day, in the possession of their descendants. It will thus appear that the supposition of Sir AV. AV. Hunter with regard to the Musalmans of Bengal is quite baseless and unreliable. Such being the case it can safely, and without any fear of contradiction, be asserted that the ancestors of the present Musalmans of this country were certainly those Musalmans who came here from foreign parts during the rule of the former sovereigns, and that the present generation of Musalmans are the otfspring of that dominant race who remained masters of the land for 5G2 years. Admitting, for the sake of argument, that the Musalmans of the present time are other than the descendants of those foreign Musalman rulers and settlers, who can then the progeny be of those . foreign Musalmans and where have they gone to ? Considering 54 THE ORIGIN OF THE that the descendants of only five Brahmins and five Sudras who (as is said) originally came to Bengal from Kanauj could have multiplied to such an enormous extent, that they are to be found everywhere in the country, what impossibility is there in supposing that the descendants of the innumerable and countless Musalmans who came to this country, during long ages, have become more numerous than they. Having; brought the argument to this advanced stage, we now trust that the reader will,, with little deliberation, be able to perceive how far it could be just and right for any person to argue that “ the an- cestors of the Musalmans of Bengal were the low caste Hindus of this country who had embraced Islam.” The erroneous opinions expressed in this connec- tion by Sir W. Hunter and other writers of note have been derived from the wrong and groundless theories promulgated by TMr. H. Beverley in the following statement in his Census Report of Bengal for 1872, [p. 132, para. 348]; — “ But probably the real explanation of the immense pre- ponderance of the Musalman religious element in this portion of the delta is to be found in the convei-sion to Islam of the nu- merous low castes which occupied it. The Mahomiuedans were ever ready to make conquests with the Koran as with the sword. Under Sul(;an Jalal-nd-din, for instance, it is said that the Hindus were persecuted almost to extermination. The exclusive caste system of Hinduism, again, naturally encour- aged the conversion of the lower orders from a religion under which they were no better than despised ontcastes, to one wliich recognized all men as equals. It is not clear, indeed, that this conversion of the lower castes was more general in MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. the pai't of the country of which we are treating than else- where, though of course the greater number of Mahom- medans located between Gaur and Ghoraghat adds probability to the supposition. History is unfortunately silent on this subject of conversion But that conver.sion was very largely carried on in Bengal, appears not only probable, but is the only explanation of the large numbers of IMahommedans found here in the present day who occupy the same social position as their Hindu neighbours.” * * * ♦ Para. 352. — “In Bengal, however, it was not so There the Musulmaii invasion found Hinduism resting on weak and uncer- tain foundations, with but a feeble hold over the minds and affections of the great bulk of the inhabitants. The Aryan ele- ment, so far from displacing the indigenous children of the soil, was only able to hold its own by frequent importations of fresh blood from Upper India. The Hindu religion itself was of a baser and more degraded type, being driven to assimilate and adopt the barbarous practices and superstitions of the aborigines which it sought to embrace within its folds. At the same time these huge masses found themselves occupying the position of serfs to a superior race who had overcome them by brute {>hysical force, and in whose social system noplace could be found for them. They were merely the hewers of wood and drawers of water for a set of masters in whose eyes they were unclean beasts and alto- gether abominable. Hemmed in by the sea, it was no longer open to them to retire further before the face of their pursuers, even had the Aryans ever entered Bengal in sufficient force to drive them to such an extreme measure. But when, in their turn, theMusalman conquerors of Hindustan invaded the lower delta with the sword and Koran, it may w’ell be conceived that they were not altogether unwelcome. At any rate, they brought with them a religion and social system under which, instead of being a despised and outeaste race, the semi-amphibious abori- gines of Bengal might occupy a rival, if not an equal, position to that of their late masters. We can imagine that very little 5G THE ORIGIN OF THE ))erseciition was required to change the faith of these miserable helots of Bengal. Persecution has rarely, if ever, succeeded of its own innate force to establish any religion. The times and circumstances of the country must demand the revolution be- fore it can be brought about by persecution alone. In Behar it was unsuccessful because Hinduism was strong enough to repel it. In Bengal Hinduism succumbed, and the great mass of the people embraced the faith of Mahammad simply to escape from their ignoble position under the Hindu system.” Para. 353. — “If further proof were wanted of the position that the Musalmans of the Bengal delta owe their origin to conver- sion rather than to the introduction of foreign blood, it seems to be afforded in the close resemblance between them and their fellow-countrymen who still form the low castes of Hindus. That both are originally of the same race seems sufficiently clear, not merely from their possessing identically the same physique, but from the similarity of the manners and customs which characterise them.” *•*•*•*■ Para. 354. — But place a Chandal or a Eajbunsee and a Bengali Musalman together, and were it not for some peculiarity of dress or the mode of cutting the hair, it would be difficult to distinguish the one from the otlier. The probability is they are one and the same race, and only within the last few centuries have they ceased to profess the same religion. ” We are surprised at the hypothesis of Mr. Beverley, which are, as he himself professes, quite unsupported by historical evidences. It is admitted on all hands that history is the only authentic record whereby we may become acquainted with the past events and oc- currences of the world, and both greater and lesser events and significant and insignificant incidents are particularised therein. Wherefore, in the absence of all proof from the history of any nation whatever, in regard to the theories of Mr. Beverley, we are quite MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 57 nnable to accept their accuracy. If it be maintained, for the sake of controversy, that the events of those times are not fully and comprehensively recorded in history, or that the mention of circumstances like these have been omitted either willfully or by oversight or from some other cause, our answer to this would be that there is no portion of the Musalman period of which the events are not fully and faithfully chronicled in their histories. When events far less important than those referred to by Mr. Beverley, such as the particulars of the reign of Sultan Mahmood, are fully narrated in the histories, what then could prevent the historians from recording such a comparatively noteworthy circumstance as the conversion of the Hindus of Bengal under the compulsion of their Musalman conquerors ? Had the facts asserted by Mr. Beverley been true, and the mention of them been omitted in the former his- tories, from any cause whatever, they would have surely been taken some notice of in those written at the com- mand of the Emperor Akbar, such as the Tahdqudt-i- Akhdri and the like, in which the accounts of the reigns of all the former sovereigns of Bengal are chronicled in minute detail. Akbar is universally considered to be a monarch free from all religious prejudice. Never- theless, neither the historical works written under the direction of this emperor nor the annals of any other nation lend any support to the theories advanced by Mr. Beverley. He has stated that when the Musahnans invaded Lower Bengal with the sword and the Koran the lower orders of Hindus in this country were tho objects of despite and contempt by the higher classes ; 58 THE ORIGIN OF THE that they were in a very degraded condition ; that they had no position in society, and that they “ cut wood and drew water ” for their masters ; and for these reasons were easily converted to Islam by the force of the sword and the Koran. But this statement is open to objection ; since if the lower orders of the Hindus were compelled to embrace Islam, how was it possi- ble for the higher classes, who held a position of rivalry with the Musalmans, to have escaped from the rigours of compulsory proselvtism and to have adhered to their own creed in this country ? Had the Musalman con- querors, holding the Koran in one hand and the sword in the other, forced the native people to submit to the yoke of Islam, then, as sure as the night follows the day, they would have converted to their own creed the higher orders of the Hindus equally with the lower classes. I cite below the opinions of other Christian writers, which belie the assertions of i\Ir. Beverley as imputing wholesale proselytizing principles to the Husalman conquerors of Bengal, and also bring to light his lam- entable errors and even the unfairness involved in such assertions. Thus the reader will ])erceive that it was commonly the practice with the Husalman conquerors everywhere to leave the people of any country they conquered to their own creed and custom, and not to interfere with their modes of life. The celebrated author, ]\Ir. Godfrey Higgins, who is a great authority on the subject, writes as follows : — if if it. if. “ In the countries conquered by the Caliphs, the peaceable inhabitants, whether Greeks, Persians, Sabeans, or Hindoos, MUSALMANS OB' BENGAL. 50 were not put to the sword as the Christians have represented ; but after the conquest was terminated, were left in the peace- able possession of their properties and religion.” John Davenport has written, in his work entitled Apology for Mahomed and the Koran, that “the Miisal- man conquerors of India, after committing some acts hostile to the free exercise of other religions, left alone the temples of that civilized and prosperous country.” Another writer, in an article headed, “ Islam as a Political System, ” which appeared in the Journal East and West, has stated : — “Islam has never interfered with the dogmas of any faith, never persecuted, never established an Inquisition, never aimed at proselytism. It offered its religion, but never en- forced it.” “ A spirit the very reverse of this (intolerance),” remarks the same author, “ is evinced in every pasre of the history of Islam, in every country to which it has extended ; so that in Palestine a Christian poet (Lamartine) has exclaimed twelve centuries after the events to which we are referring, ‘The Mahometans are the only tolerant people on the face of the earth ; ’ and an English traveller (Slade) reproaches them with being too tolerant.” Let the reader remark well that all these impartial opinions of Christian judges are contradictory to the hollow assertions of Mr. Beverley. It now remains to examine the question as to the low- caste Hindus of this country turning Musalmans from their having no ])lace in res})ectable Hindu society, and owing to there being a general equality of position and absence of gradations among the Musalman community. 60 THE ORIGIN OF THE Every rational mind can well conceive that there is no earthly temptation, however strong, that can seduce one from the religion of his father and induce him to embrace any other religion. However mean and low a person’s condition in life may be, he holds his faith dearer than all worldly lucre. If Mr. Beverley’s conjec- tures were right, all the Hindus, high caste and low, would have equally forsaken their religion and embraced Islam, during the Musahnan supremacy, in order to secure worldly advantages ; and thus of the followers of the Hindu faith who are countless in this country at the present dav, scarcely any could be found ; or if some of them would have nevertheless remained in some remote and isolated part of the country, these remnants would surely have yielded to the evangelic persuasions of the missionaries, and would have been tempted to embrace Christianity for the sake of finding education and train- ing in civilization and also the means of livelihood by the help of those missionaries, and furthermore to secure that equality of position which, from a religious point of view, is deemed to exist just as much among the Christian people as among the followers of Islam. Mr. Beverley’s opinion, that even a low-caste Hindu, on his conversion to Islam, attains to a position of equality with the generality of Musalmans, simply betrays his ignorance of the customs of the Musalmans. From a religious ])oint of view, of course, all Musal- mans stand on a footing of equality. But according to usage and customs the social position and the family rank of a man do not become altered by the change of religion. In fact the social position of a Musahnan MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 61 convert exactly corresponds to the station he held ])revious to his conversion, and he can associate with only such Musalmans as belong to the same station as he himself ; a low-caste person on his embracing Islam, is not allowed to hold familiar intercourse or claim equality with high-born Musalmans, nor can a Hindu of superior caste, upon his conversion to Islam, marry into a respectable Musalman family. Rigid and scru- pulous regard has ever been paid by the Musalmans to social position and family dignity. Regarding the features and physique, habits and characteristics of the Bengal Musalmans, Mr. Beverley has written that if one of these Musalmans be contrast- ed with a Chandala or Rajbansi, no difference can be perceived between them except in their dress and the cut of their hair. We shall show, in a subsequent chapter treating of the ethnological features and charac- teristics of the Musalmans, how far this statement is correct, but here we point out that the countenance and appearance of the Musalmans of Bengal remark- ably differs from that of the Hindus of this country and is generally better than theirs. Europeans have travelled through Arabia and Ajam under disguise, and have been taken by the natives of those countries either for Arabs or Ajams. For instance, in the accounts of the travels of the celebrated traveller, Sir Richard Burton, which were published, together with his portrait in Ai’abic costume, in the Illustrated London News of November 1st, 1890, it is related that he travelled through Africa and Arabia under the assumed name of Shaik Abdullah* He had G2 THE ORIGIN OF THE SO successfully imitated the Arabic tongue and tone, and so effectually adapted his manners and habits, mien and air to those of the Arabs, that none of them sus- pected him of being an alien. l\rr. Henry Palmer Arabic Professor of Cambridge University, stated that when he travelled in Arabia in Musalman guise, no one ever detected him. Very recently an Englishman went in disguise into Afghanistan and performed for five years the functions of Imam in the Cathedral Mosque of Herat; but no one could, during this long time, detect that he was a Chidstian and not a Musalman. Thus when by a little imitation and temporary as- sumption of disguise, differences and distinctions can be so fully obliterated, it is no wonder then, if l\Ir. Beverley has failed to perceive any difference between the Hindus and iSIusahnans of this country whose families have lived in Bengal for centuries, and whose food, habits costume and dialect have undergone a material change. Without having recourse to historical evidence and to the indications afforded by features and habits, mere conjecture is sufficient to lead us to the conclusion that it is owing to the country remaining under Musal- man sway for nearly six hundred years that IMusal- mans are now to be found here in such overwhelming numbers. Likewise it would be more consistent with reason to think that the comparatively larger numbers of IMusalmans that inhabit the district of Maldah, within which lie the ruins of Gaur and the adjacent districts, are the descendants of the population of that old ]\Iusalman capital. The INIusalman capital in Bengal was first at Gaur. The capital was subsequently MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 63 removed to Rajmahal. From Rajmahal it was removed to Dacca, and from Dacca to Moorsliidabad. A vast number of Musalmans will be found in all these districts and tbe surrounding ones. It also appears from this that probably all these Musalmans, or at least tbe major portion of them, are the descendants of tbe ruling races who successively governed these countries.* • During the Mahommedan rule Ghor, Tanda, Eajmahal, Dacca and Murshidabad wore respectively the capitals of Bengal, and this accounts for a larger number of Musalman poimlation of these places as they settled in large numbers in the neighbourhood of their capitals, — Sarkar Ghoraghat, which now forms the districts of Bogra, Denajpore and Kungpore and its vicinity, Julpaigoory, etc. ; and Sarkar Satgaon, com- prising 24-1’arganas, Nadia and Hoogly ; Sarkar Fatehabad and Sarkar Bagla, which includes Jessore, Faridpur, Bakergunge and Dacca; and Sarkar Sonargawn, now called Tipperah and Nawakhali* abound with Mahommedan population, the cause of which Akbartiamak itself refers to the migration of a very largo number of Mahommedans to the above-mentioned places. Akbariiaiitah, Vol. II, relates that when Monem Khan, Khan Khanan, conquered Bengal in the I9th year of His Majesty’s reign, according to Ilis Majesty’s order, Daod Shah, King of Bengal, with his followers fled to Satgaun, and the chiefs and the grandees of Bengal with their adher- ents fled to Sonargram, Ghoraghat and Fatehabad. Thus each party left the capital and fled in different directions (for safety). Khan Khanan, conjointly with Raja Todarmal, took possession of Tanda, the then capital of Bengal, and began to administer the country and sent the victorious army away into the neighbourhood in different directions all over Bengal. Mahommed Kooli Khan and others were sent to Sat- gan, Majno Khan and others to Ghoraghat, to suppress the insurrec- tion and disturbances that were raging there, and Morad Khan and others to Fatehabad and Bogla to establish peace and order there ; and Itemad Khan with others was appointed to subdue Sonargaun and to sup- press the disturbances and disorders that might be prevailing there. This war between the Imperial army and the armies of the Chiefs of Bengal Dr. Blochtuann’s contribution to the History of Bengal. 64 THE ORIGIN OF THE We cannot say wbetlier Mr. Beverley has any ulte- rior object in exposing the Musalmans to contempt and ridicule by publishing such unjust opinions and continued for a few years. At last, however, the people of Bengal sought for protection and swore allegiance. Their prayers were granted and protection was given to them. It was ordered that they should estab- lish themselves where they were and that jagirs for their maintenance should be settled on them. On account of the residence of these protect- ed chiefs, the districts of Bogra, Pabna Denajpore, Jalpaigoory, Rang- pore, Bakergunge, Maimansingh, Dacca, Tipperah, Noakahli, Chatgaon, Twenty-four Parganas, Hoogly, Nadia, Farridpore and Jessore abound with a Mahommedan population. The reason why Maldah and its adjacent (countries), Rajshahi, Pumea, Rajmahal, and their neighbouring places and Murshidabad teem with a Mahommedan population is this : that these places formed respectively the capitals of the Mahommedan kings and Nazims of Bengal. It appears from the verdict and testimony of history that the Mahommedans of Assam are not the descendants of the native converts of the place. Although they resemble the native Assam- ese to a considerable extent in appear.ance, language, manners and customs, they are not the original inhabitants of Assam. (See Ul^ory of Ass-tm, written by a follower of Jlir Jumla, Subadar of Bengal, when the latter invaded and conquered Assam under the Imperial order from Aurang- zeb). It is stated in page 34 of the said History that Hussain Shah, King of Bengal, marched towards Assam with twenty thousand horse and foot and innumerable boats. The King of Assam left his dominion and fled towards the mountainous regions of the land. Hussain Shah left his son with most of his army to rule over the country. When the rainy season advanced and the ways of communication were overflooded and stopped, the Raja descended from the mountains, and, in collusion with his people who had sworn allegiance to the victorious party, imprisoned the Prince with his chiefs and followers. The present Mahommedans of Assam, it is alleged, belong to the descendants of these captives from among Hussain Shah’s armies. The author adds that it is tlirough intermarriages between these captives and the Assamese that their children adopted the manners and customs of the natives, and are Mahommedan only in name. They like to befriend the natives more than the Mahommedans, and are more inclined to the Assamese than to the followers of Islam. And the Mahommedans who migrated and settled in Assam were allowed to say their namaz (prayers) and perform their roza (fast) but not to cry their sacred azan, nor to chant the Holy Koran MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 05 lamentable conjecture and imaginary suspicions as be has done ; but what we believe is that findintr the Musalmans in overwhelming numbers in Bengal, and being ignorant of the actual cause of this increase in their numbers, he has advanced whatever theories he pleased to account for it. We lament that during the r^gimi of the most just and popular Government of Britain, a Government which has not its equal in the universe, the feelings of such vast multitudes of its loyal Musalman subjects should be allowed to be hurt by their being unjustly held up to ridicule before the whole world, and, more- over, that such whimsical and defamatory statements which scandalize these Musalmans and injure their feelings should be placed on public record to put them to shame and make them contemptible in the eyes of the world. We humbly but most earnestly implore the paternal Government to repair the wrong done to us Musalman subjects through the public writings of Mr. Beverley; and solicit that the question at issue, viz., that of our origin and ancestry be thoroughly inquired into with the help of the light afforded by history and that the results of such investigation may be placed on record. E CHAPTER II. Traits and Characteristics of the Chief Musalman Families in Bengal. Another proof of the existence of noble and high Musalman families in Bengal is that during the supre- macy of the Ghori, Khilji, Mughal and other Musalman dynasties in India, the practice was that high and responsible officers and persons of distinction were granted Jagirs, Al-tamgha, Aima and Madadi-ma^dsh by the State, in lieu of the payment of their salaries and stipends iu cash. As a rule, Jagirs and Al-tamgha used to be granted to civil and military officers, and Aimas and Madadi-ma ash to learned men, spiritual leaders, and persons of noble descent. Jagirs were granted nomi- nally for life, but as most of the State appointments were conferred on the heirs of the late incumbents, consequently the Jagirs became hereditary in the family. Aimas and Madadi-maVish were granted in perpetuity chiefly to persons of noble birth and to holy men. Besides these grants, rent-free tenements used to be assigned by Government for the maintenance of holy shrines, mosques, and other religious establishments. It should be here noted that in those times much circumspection was exercised and strictn is observed in MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 67 regard to land being granted free of rent ; as from very early ages it has been the prerogative of royalty to possess certain pi’oprietary rights in the lands within the kingdom, and the former sovereigns depended for their personal expenses as well as for those of the administration exclusively upon the revenues derived from these lands. For this reason, such grants of land as deprived the Crown of its proprietary rights were never made except under actual and special require- ments ; and consequently these grants were made by Government only in cases of absolute necessity to persons of great distinction, of admitted holiness and for the maintenance of shrines. The rules and practices related in the Ain-i-Akhari regarding Sayurghdls are given below in a condensed form. The kind-hearted Emperor (Akbar), by the wisdom given to him by God, reserved the grants of subsistence allowances and Madadi-ma’ ash for four kinds of men, viz .: — “ (1) Those persons who have devoted themselves to the service of God and have withdrawn from all worldly concerns, and are engaged, day and night, in the search after true knowledge. “ (2) Those men of pious resignation who, overcoming vici- ous tendencies of human nature, have turned their faces from society. “ (3) Men who are destitute of means and incapable of making shift for themselves. “(4) Men of respectability and good birth who, having improvidently and imprudently learnt no profession, are unable to provide for themselves.” Subsistence allowances paid in cash are termed Ozeefa, and the grants in land are called Madadi-ma' ash. 68 THE ORIGIN OF THE In these two forms, millions have already been given away by the Imperial Government. The Saijurghdls of the Afghans were separated from the Khalasa or Crown lands, and orders were issued to the effect that all those who possessed five hundred bighas or more should relinquish their hold upon those lands, unless their titles were reviewed and ratified by the Emperor in person. Another order was passed that the excess of all lands beyond one hundred bigahs, if left unspecified in the Farmans, should be reduced to its two-fifths and the difference of three-fifths should be resumed and con- verted to Crown land, the Eranian and Tooranian widows alone being exempted from the operation of this regulation. It was further ruled that such of the Jagir holders as might be found to occupy lands other than those constituting their Jagirs, may each of them be granted out of these new lands such a portion as to be equi- valent to three-fourths of his relinquished Jagir. L)uring the ministry of Azd-ud-Dawlah, it was ordain- ed that if a Sagurghdl was held by more than one person and had not been divided and partitioned accord- ing to the terms of the Farman, the Sadar should, of his own motion, in the event of the death of any of the partners, proceed to make a proper division of the Sagurghdl, and keep the share of the deceased partner annexed to the Crown land until the appearance of rightful heirs. The Sadar was, moreover, vested with the power to grant releases for holdings up to fifteen bighas. MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 69 Again, when it transpired that holders of one hun- dred bighas or less were guilty of dishonesty, orders were given for the Sadar to produce these grantees in person before the royal presence. F urther orders were afterwards passed that the Sadar should, with the con- currence of Abul Fazl, either increase or retrench these grants. The general rule was that Sayurghdls should con- sist of one-half of tilled and the other half of cultivable lands, but if otherwise, one-fourth of the whole might be retrenched and a cash allowance made in lieu of the remainder. The rate of revenue per bigha varies in the different parts but is never less than a rupee.* The following statement will show the varieties and O descriptions of Lakhiraj or rent-free tenures, held by the gentry and nobility, in most of the districts of Bengal, as originally under such rules and restrictions as have been mentioned above. Descriptions of Lakhiraj Tenures. Varieties of Lakhi- laj Tenures. Particulars of Holders. Nature of the Tenures. Jagir Mnsalmans and Hindus. Used to be granted for the life term of the holder for bearing any office or as remuneration for service. Al-tnmeha Ditto Granted in perpetuity. Madadi-ma’ash ... Musalmans Granted exclusively to spi- ritual guides, Syyads and high-born Mnsalmans. Aima Ditto For religious leaders, spiri- tual guides and Syyads. • Note on the Cadrs of Akbar’s reign. 70 THE ORIGIN OF THE Description of Lakhiraj Tenures. — continued. Varieties of Lakhi- raj Tenures. Particulars of Holders. Nature of the Tenures. .Maskan Musalmaus ... For the erection of habita- tions, &c. Nazoorat Ditto ... Granted to spiritual guides, Syyads and venerable holy men. Khankah Ditto For the erection of Khankah. Fakiran Ditto For mendicants. Nazri Dargah Ditto For the maintenance of a shrine. Nazri-Imamain or 'J'azia-dari. Ditto For the celebration of the Moharram. Zamin-i-^asjid ... Ditto ... For the current expenses of a mopqne. Nazri Hazrat Ditto For the performance of cer- tain oblations. Kharchi Mosafiran Ditto For hospitality to wayfarers. Marummati Masjid, &c. Ditto ... For the maintenance of a mosqne. &c. Ma-A'fi Ditto ... For the subsistence of nobly- born Musalmans. Piran Ditto For spiritual guides and learned men, &c. Khyrat or Khyrati Ditto ... For Musalmaus in destitute circumstances. Kharij Jama Hindus and This tenure pertains both to Musalmans. Hindus and Musalmans. Minhai Ditto Ditto. Bra bin alter Hindus Specially for Brahmans. Mehtran Ditto For Hindus other than Brahmans. Maleck and Malea- Musalmans and Pertains both to Hindns and kaua. Hindus. Musalmans. Debatter Ditto ... For the maintenance of Hindu shrines. Shewatter Ditto • •• Ditto. Sooraj Parbat Hindus ... For the maintenance of Hindu shrines. Inam Musalmans and Hindus. Given as a reward for service both to Hindus and Musal- mans. Munkar Ditto ... Ditto. MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 71 Besides the varieties detailed in the above statement, there are many other kinds of Lakhiraj in Bengal, which are known by different names in different districts. But of the whole nomenclature, the terms Al-tamgha Aima, Madadi-ma' ash and Jagir signify royal grants. Aima tenures are peculiar to Bengal, and are no- where else to be found ; thus indicating that they form the grants exclusively made by the Kings of Gaur. The verbal meaning of the term Aima is subsistence or maintenance, but technically it signifies a Jagir granted by the king, to an especially deserving and venerable person. Grants bearing this designation pertain exclusively to the Syyads, holy men, venerable persons, and the leaders of the Musalman religion. Or, speaking more generally, lands granted by the Kings of Bengal to the religious and spiritual leaders of the Musalmans were termed Aimas. Of Aimas, again, there are two subdivisions, — one is free from assessment, and the other is very lightly assessed. Both the kinds, however, form royal grants. A very small remnant of the rent-free Aimas now exist, for most of these were resumed during the rigimi of the Mughal dynasty and then resettled for low rates with their former owners. The difference between Lakhiraj or rent-free tenures granted by the Kings of Gaur and those granted by the Mughal Emperors is merely nominal, freehold tenements bestowed by the Kings of Gaur on holy persons, learned men and religious guides, were designated Aimas; while similar grants made by the Mughal Emperors were termed Madadi- ma'dsh. Aima tenures are chiefly to be found in those THE ORIGIN OF THE districts in vrliich the ancient noble IMusalman families of Gaur lived. There are twenty-five such districts in Bengal, namely : — ( 1 ) ( 2 ) (3) (B (5) ( 6 ) (7) ( 8 ) (9) ( 10 ) ( 11 ) ( 12 ) (13) Murshidabad. Nuddea. 24-Perganahs. Klioolna. Jessore. Burdwan. Huglily. Midnapore. Birbhoom. Bankoorah. Deenajpore. Bajshahi. Eangpore. (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) ( 20 ) ( 21 ) ( 22 ) (23) (24) (25) Bogra. Pabna. Darjeeling. Jalpaiguri. Dacca. Paridpore. Bakarganj Mymensingh. Chittagong. Noakholly. Tipperah. Maldah. Again, there are 700 lots of Aimas in the district of IMurshidabad; in Rajshahi, Bagha and Xattore there are large numbers of Aima lots ; in Bogra there are 694- lots ; in Burdwan 1,705 lots ; in Hughly 894 lots ; in Bakarganj the number is somewhat smaller, but has not been ascertained precisely ; in Midnapore there are 12 lots ; in 24-Perganahs 16 lots ; and in Maldah, Deenaj- pore, Xoakholly there are some lots also, but their exact number has not been learnt. It is evident from the above accounts that there are the largest numbers ot Aima lots in the districts of Murshidabad, Burdwan, Hughly, Maldah, Rajshahi and Bogra, namely, the districts adjoining Gaur. But even in these districts Aimas lie chiefly in such parts as are elevated and tree from damp, and where the soil is hard and compact, but rarelv in such places as are marshy or sandy or subject to river floods. Again, with regard to the three ancient MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 73 divisions of Bengal, namely, Rarh, Barind and Bang, Aimas are to be found mostly in Rarb, less in Barind and rarely in Bang. After the conquest of Bengal by Akbar, when the land-settlement of the country was made by Rajah Todar Mall, most of the Ahnas were, under the rules of Sayurrflial, converted to domain lands ; and, subse- quently, during the administrations of the Nazims, Murshid Kuli Khan and Nawab Kasim Ali Khan, Aima lands were again resumed and then permanently settled for low rents with their former possessors. Henceforth these lightly assessed tenements came to be called Aimas. The general rate of Government revenue for Aima lands is three bighas per rupee. Sir W. Hunter has written in his Statistical Account of Murshidahad that the real dilference between a cessed Aima and Lakhiraj is very slight. A/mas were granted exclusively to the Musalmans, and although revenue has been levied upon them, yet the rates fixed are very low and nominal. The same author has written in his account of Rajshahi that in this district there are Aimas in Nattore and Basha. All these were granted by the former rulers chiefly to the learned men of the Musalmans and to their holy men, spiritual guides, and religious leaders, and for charitable purposes ; these grants date from times far remote from the deicani administration ; and the proprietary rights vested by the grants are both hereditary and transferable. Besides the Aimas, Madadi-ma'dsh and other varieties of Lakhiraj tenures, as detailed in the foregoing state- ment, are very numerous in Bengal ; and although their 74 THE ORIGIN OF THE exact amount is not known, yet from the statistical accounts it is very clear that it is very large. When the government of these provinces fell under the sovereign control of the British nation, then, ac- cording to Regulation XIX of 1793 of this Government, all Lakhiraj tenements exceeding ten bighas, with re- gard to which the occupiers failed to produce royal Sanads were resumed. Under the operation of this Regulation many bond fide grants, for which the Sanads were not forthcoming, were converted to domain lands. Afterwards Regulation XXXVII of 1793 was passed for the resumption of life-term and other kinds of Lakhiraj tenures, other than those forming royal grants, and also such as might be dated earlier than 1765 A.D., of which the occupiers might be in possession of Sanads, and of which they should have acquired the possession by fair means before the above-mentioned year, and which had not been previously assessed by the British authorities for more than its usual revenue. Finally, Regulation II of 1819 A.D., for the resump- tion of Lakhiraj lands, gave the death-blow to these tenures. It was laid down in section 28 of this Regulation that no Farman of the Emperors of Delhi, nor any Sanad, or Parwana of any Wazir, Nawab, or Rajah, shall be considered valid ground for title, unless such documents can be verified from official records and their genuineness attested to by living witnesses, and that they shall not be accepted as valid merely because of other attestations which they may contain. Under the operations of the Regulations noticed above, more especially those of the last-mentioned. MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 75 most of the Lahhiraj tenements underwent resumption ; and it is surprising, indeed, that in spite of these sweep- ing legislative measures, such numerous Musalman Lakhimj tenures should still continue to exist in these provinces. But let us pause here to ask those who are opposed to our views, whether all these countless Lakhiraj tenures (which by their very nature pertain exclu- sively to the Musalmans) are not standing memorials of equally countless, high, and noble Musalman families in this country, belonging to by-gone generations ? We maintain that no one can affirm the contrary. Let us further ask whether it is possible that the lines of descent of all those countless families could have become extinct ? and if not, where are their de- scendants, if not in Bengal ; and who are they, if not the present generation of the Musalmans of this country? We are afraid that any candid reply given to the above questions would but confute the declared opinion of those who oppose our views. Let it be remembered that those Lakhiraj and Aima tenures which were peculiar to the Musalmans are not all at present in their possession. The fact is that, on the one hand, ruin having overtaken the ancient Musal- man families, and, on the other hand, the auction rules of Government being in active operation, these tenures have become alienated from their original owners either by public auction by Government or by private sales by themselves, and gradually men of different nations and creeds have acquired possession of the estates of the Musalmans. 76 THE ORIGIN OF THE Another proof of the same kind is that most of the perganahs, villages, and hamlets in this country bear Musalman names ; thus denoting clearly that their Ta-ahhuddars and owners were at one time Musalmans. Formerly it was the custom for landed estates and Ilakas to be called after the names of their owners and also to be entered under the same names in the Government registers. For instance, Perganah-i Bar- bakabad, Perganah-i Zafaru Jal, Perganah-i Jaw’ar Ibrahim, Perganah-i Barbak, Perganah-i Solaman Shahi, Haveli Sherpore, Azmat Shahi Perganah, Hosain Ujl and numerous other such names are borne by perganahs and villages in this country. This sort of nomen- clature sufficiently shows that all such estates originally belonged to the Musalmans, and as these appellations bear strong resemblance to the names of the Khilji and Ghori Amirs, the presumption is strong that the owners of these estates were the Amirs and nobles of those times. It was evidently owing to the residence of these landlords and llakadars on their estates that the location of high Musalman families in the rural parts received an impetus. Another reason for gentle and noble families preferring to reside in the country \vas that the rural population were less subject than the urban population to the dangers and disasters that usually attend revolutions and violent changes of Gov- ernment.* It is the result of these causes combined * The Government of the Afghans in Bengal cannot be said to have been monarchical, but nearly resembled the feudal system introduced by the Goths and Vandals into Europe. Bukht3’ar Khilji and the succeeding conquerors made choice of a certain district as their own domain : the other districts were assigned to the inferior chiefs, who subdivided the MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 77 that high and low born Miisahnans at present form so large a section of the rural population of this country. Traces that still exist in almost every village and hamlet of tombs, sepulchres, monasteries, shrines and mosques, endowed with thousands of highas of Lahhiraj lands, of which an insignificant portion only alone sur- vives for its legitimate purpose, imlicate the existence, at some remote period, of illustrious and saintly Musal- mans in those places. Note. •During the times of the Musalmaii rulers the land of Bengal was divided into two descriptions : one was the “ Crown lands,” the revenues of which were administered by the Government, and which were denominated the Khalasa lands;” and the other kind of lands belonged to the nobles ami patricians as constituting their Jagirs. The income proceeding from Khalasa lands during Akbar’s time amounted to Rs. 63,03,752 and that proceeding from amounted to 43 lakhs. (See Parliamentary V. Report.) lands amongst their petty commanders, each of whom maintained a certain number of soldiers, composed principally of their relations or dependants ; these persons, however, did not cultivate the soil themselves, but each officer was the landlord of a small estate, having under him a certain number of Hindu tenants, to whom, from the principle of self- interest, he conducted himself with justice and moderation ; and had it not been for the frequent change of masters, and constant scenes of rebellion and invasion, in which private property was little regarded, the cultivators of the soil would have been jjlaced in a state of eomparative happiness ; and agriculture would have flourished, as it subsequently did in another part of India, under the Government of their countrymen, the Rohillas. The condition of the upper classes of Hindus must, doubtless, have been much deteriorated, but it is probable that many of the Afghan officers, averse to business, or frequently called away from their homes to attend their chiefs, farmed out their estates to the opulent Hindus, who were also permitted to retain the advantages of manufactures and commerce. * See, Ain,-i-Akhari. 78 THE ORIGIN OF THE The Khalasa lands.— Aumils were appointed by Government for the administration of the revenues of these lands, and the persons employed under them for the realization and collection of the revenues were called Zemindars. These latter function- aries used to collect the revenues from the ryots and ultimately to remit them to the Government Treasury, for which they were paid by commission at a certain fixed percentage. In Bengal these Zemindars were mostly Hindus of the Kayestha caste. The Zemindars, in fact, possessed no particular right in the lands ; on the contrary, they were like all other State servants ; but as in those times most of the Government posts were hereditary, so these appointments also were allowed by Government to descend from father to the son. But in reality the dismissal and appointment of the Zemindars were absolutely in the power of the sovereign ruler of the time. These appoint- ments were vacated and filled up according to the pleasure of Government, on the incumbents being found guilty of faults and delinquencies. In those times great responsibilities rested with the Zemindars, such as the collection of the revenues, the remittance of the realizations and rendering proper accounts for the same, and the like other functions. Any delinquency taking place in the realization and remittance of the revenues was visited by heavy punishment on the Zemindars, and they had, on that account, to suffer various hardships and, besides, imprisonment, even bodily torture was one of the punishments laid down for such delinquents. The Zemindars, moreover, had to answer for robbery, dacoity, murder and other serious offences taking place within the area under their control. One reason for men of the Kayestha caste being mostly appointed as Zemindars was that these men understood agricultural and revenue matters better than other people ; and the other reason was that the severities that accompanied the demands of Government in those times, and the serious responsibilities that then lay on the shoulder of the Zemindars, served as deterrents for men of higher classes than the Kayestha taking up the appointment who, as far as possible, kept them- selves free from the responsibilities pertaining to that post. MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 79 In fact, this profession was invested with so much terror, that even in the early rigimi of the British Government and after the Permanent Settlement had taken place, cautious men, at the outset, hesitated to take zemindaries, and if they were tempted to have them for the sake of gain, they took them under fictitious names. Under these circumstances the Zemindari profession in this country remained almost restricted to the Kayestha caste* during the times of the Musalman rulers, and the above practices continued more or less in force throughout this period. When the British Government commenced, the East India Company vested the Zemindars with hereditary permanent rights in 1793 A.D. Henceforth the Zemindars began to have proprietary rights in the lands. As the income derived from the land kept increasing under the British Government, the condition of the Zemindars consequently became the more improved and prosperous. The other kind, or the Jagir lands. — Under this head I shall deal with mansahi and non-7nansabi Jagirs, and Aima, Madadi- ma’dsh and all other kinds of rent-free lands. These lands belonged to the nobility and gentry of the country. High officers of Government, the Mansabdars, men of renown and fame or of noble descent, and spiritual leaders had the grants of Jagirs, Airnas and Madadi-ma\ish, This class of men were esteemed as the flower of the people. The personal expenses of the oflficers and those of the requirements of their appoint- ments had to be met out of the revenues of their respective estates. They had to perforin the service required of them to their king and the country. Each Mansabdar had to maintain a militia force in proportion to the extent of the resources of his Jagir, wherewith to serve the Government in time of war. Tiiey administered their respective estates on their own account, but they also entrusted the work of the collection of the reve- nues of their domains to the men of Kayestha caste, who in thii Capacity also bore the title of Zemindar. The term • See, Ain i'Akhan, so THE ORIGIN OE THE Zemindar then signified a person who, on receipt of a commis- sion, collected the land revenues on behalf of the owner, and paid the same to him. The Jagirs held by the nobility and the'gentry were of two kinds : one of which was hereditary and permanent, and the other was non-hereditary and temporary. The former kind of Jagirs was held by eminent ecclesiastics, i.e., those who had the dignity of being the religious leaders of the people, and by men of noble descent. It was not in the power of the sovereign to dispossess these Jagirdars of their estates; on the contrary, the sovereign had to follow them in matters social, religious and political. Although the Jagirs of the oflficers and Mansahdars were, strictly speaking, of a temporary nature, yet as most of the appointments were, in those times, hereditary, and retained in the family, consequently these Jagirs ought rather to be considered as hereditary. The descent of such a Jagir in a family was only interrupted in the event of the person holding it, for the time being, by virtue of his office, being dismissed the service. In such a case the Jagir thus resumed was invariably bestowed on the person who was appointed to the vacant post. So long as Bengal continued to be governed by its independent rulers, such ejectments from, and allotments of, Jagirs seldom took place, except when there was a revolution of Government and the transfer of the sceptre from one dynasty to another. But whenever the country became sub- jugated by any foreign power, then of course great changes took place in the former state of things. For instance, when Bengal lost its independence and came under the Government of the Mughal Emperors, the Mansabi Jagirs passed from the possession of the ancient noble families of the country and came into the hands of the foreign Mughal nobles. But even then moderation and forbearance were shown towards persons of high origin and religious leaders, inasmuch as either some portion of their Jagirs were allowed to remain in their possession, or after the resumption of the entire Jagirs, some fresh grants were made to them. The Mughal Emperors, MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 81 moreover, granted numerous madad-i-ma-aish (a kind of free- hold tenure) to the patricians and ecclesiastics of their own times ; but resumptions and bestowals of, and additions and alterations in, the jagirs ever continued to take place during the period of the Mughal domination. Subsequently when the country came under the British ad- ministration, all the officers of the previous Government and the mansahdars lost their appointments, and all the jagirs^ mansahi and non-mansahi were resumed by the governing power, and some of the ejected jagirdars were assigned stipends in lieu ; and instead of the dismissed officers and mansabdars, European officers were appointed on salaries pay- able in cash. But at this time also the British authorities allowed the patrician and ecclesiastical jagirs to remain as they were, and enacted laws and regulations to this purpose. Nevertheless, owing to the severities of the laws and from other causes, a great many free-hold tenures and estates came ultimately to be resumed by Government. The lands of the mansabi and other kinds of jagirs that were resumed from time to time were settled with the zemin- dars for revenues, in a similar manner as were the khalsa lands- In fine, the original owners of the lands, who held them free of rent, and who were the principal men of the country, have now disappeared altogether, and in their stead Government revenue agents or zemindars became proprietors of the lands, by virtue of the “Permanent Settlement.” This radical change took place at the dawn of the British regime, and indeed it is the British Government that has converted the zemindars into landlords, for they had no such conspicuous position before, as they now occupy, for then the mansabdars and other jagirdars formed the leading men of the country. Mr. John Grant writes that two-fifths of the lauds of Benaal belonged to the nobles and patricians, and the remaining three- fifths to the reigning monarch. From this, it can be conceived what a large number of dignified persons and jagirdars and mansabdars lived in this country. Although these jagirdars have now disappeared, and their posts have been abolished and F 82 THE ORIGIN OF THE their jagirs resumed, their foot-prints still exist, and their descendants still live in this country among us. It would not be without interest to the readers, we presume, if we mention here something relative to the nature of the mansab and the holders of such stations, as it would there- from appear in what number these Musalman noblemen were in the empire, and what sort of men these grandees were. For the information of our readers, we give below in a eondensed form the Eegulation in the Ain-i-AJcbari , together with the valuable note of Dr. Blochmann thereon. Notes on the Cadrs of Akbar’s reign by Professor Bloch- mann : — “In this Ain—oneoi the most interesting in the whole work, the Chagtai word Saj/urghdl is translated by the Arabic Madad-ul-ma’dsh, in Persian Madad-i-ma’ash, for which we often find in MSS. Madad-o-ma’dsL The latter term signi- fies ‘assistance of livelihood,’ and, like its equivalent (milk), cr property, it denotes lands given for benevolent purposes, as specified by Abul Fazl Such lands were hereditary, and differ for this reason from jagir or mz^Hands, which were conferred, for a specified time, on Mansabdars in lieu of salaries. This Ain proves that Akbar considerably interfered with Sayii,rqhdl lands arbitrarily, resuming whatever lands he liked, and increasing the domain, or khdlasah lands to the rum of many a Mahommedan (Afghan) family. He also completely broke the power of the Gadr whose dignity, especially befoire the Mughal dynasty, had been very great. It was the (7acfr, or as he was then generally styled, Cadr-t-Jahan, ^hose edict legalized the jalus or accession of a new king. During the rei<^n of Akbar also, ha ranked as the fourth officer of the empire (vide end of Ain 30). The rower of these Cadrs was immense. They were the highest law-officers, and had the powers which Administrators-General have among us ; they were in charge of all lands devoted to ecclesiastical and bene- volent purposes, and possessed an almost unlimited authority of conferring such lands independently of the king. They were also the highest ecclesiastical law-officers, and might MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 83 exercise the powers of High Inquisitors. Tims Abdul Nabi, during his Cadrship, ordered two men to be killed for heresy (vide p. 177). In the times before the Mughals, the terms idrdrdt, wazdif, milk, in'dM-i-dehha, in'dm-i-zaminha, &c., occur for the word Sapdrgkdl (or Sepurghdl, or Sughdrghdl, as some dictionaries spell it). Among the former kings, Ala-ud-din Khilji is notorious for the disregard with which he cancelled the grants of former rulers. He resumed the greater part of the Madad-i-ma’-dsh tenures, and made them domain lands. He also lowered the dignity of the Cadr by appointing his kej’-bearer to this high office (Tarikh-i-Ferishta, p. 353). Qutb-ud-din Mubarik Shah, however, during the four years and four months of his reign, reinstated many whom Ala-ud-din had deprived (T. F., p. 358). That Shere Shah has often been accused by Mughal histo- rians for his bounty in conferring lands, has been mentioned above (Ferishta, p. 256 note) ; and this may have been one of the reasons why Akbar shewed such an unexpected severity towards the grant-holders of his time. Each culah had a Cadr-i-Juz, or provincial Cadr, who was under the orders of the Chief Cadr (Cadr-i-J ahan, or Cadr-i- Kill, or Cadr-i- Cudur). Just as in every other department, bribery was also exten- sively carried on in the offices of the Cadrs. The land specified in the /a mam of a holder rarely corresponded in extent with the land which he actually held ; or the language of th&farman was ambiguously worded, to enable the holder to take possession of as much as he could, and keep it as long as he bribed the Kaziz and Provincial Cadrs. Hence Akbar had every reason, after repeated inquiries, to cancel grants conferred by former rulers. The religious views of the Emperor (vide Ferishta, p. 167), and the hatred which he showed to the ‘ Ulamd, most of whom held lands, furnishe 1 him with a personal, and therefore stronger, reason to resume their grants, and drive them away to Bhakkar in Sind, or to Bengal, the climate of which, in those days, was as notorious as in later days, that of Gombroon. 84 THE ORIGIN OF THE After the fall of Abdul Nabi— a man whom Akbarused once tb honour by adjusting his slippers— Sultan Khwajah, a member of the Divine Faith (vide Ferhhta, p. 204), was appointed as Cadr ; and the Cadrs after him were so limited in the power of conferring lands independently of Akbar and had so few grants to look after, as to tempt Badaoni to indulge in sarcas- tical remarks. The following were Akbar’s Cadrs : — 1. Shaikh Gadai, a Shiah, appointed at the recommendation of Bairam Khan, till 968. 2. Khwaja Muhammad Calish, till 971. 3. Shaikh Abdul Nabi, till 986. 4. Sultan Khwajah, till his death in 993. 5. Amir Fathullah of Shiraz, till 997. 6. Cadr Jahan, whose name coincides with the title of his office. Abul Fazl also mentions a Cadr, Maulana Abdul Baqi ; but I do not know when he held office. I extract a few short passages from Badaoni Page 29. Shaikh Gadai cancelled the Iladad i-ma'ush lands, and took away the legacies of the Khanzadas(Afghans)and gave a Soyitrghdl to any one that would bear up with humiliating treatment, but not otherwise. Nevertheless, in comparison with the present time, when obstacles are raised to the possession of every jarib of ground, nay, even less, you may call the Shaikh an A’lambahsh (one who gives away a world). Page 52. After Shaikh Gaddi, Khwaja Muhammad Calish was, in 968, appointed Cadr ; but he did not possess such ex- tensive powers in conferring lands as ^adad'-\~ma~ ashy because he was dependent on the Diwans. Page 71. In 972, or perhaps more correctly in 971, Shaikh Abdul Nabi was made Cadr. In giving away lands, he was to consult Muzaffar Khan, at that time Vazir and Vakil. But soon after the Shaikh acquired such absolute powers, that he conferred on deserving people whole worlds of subsistence- allowances, lands and pensions, so much so that if you place the grants of all former kings of Hindustan in one scale, and those of the Shaikh into the other, his scale would weigh more. MCJSALMANS OF BENGAL, 85 But several 3 ’ears later the scale went up, as it bad been under former kings, and matters took an adverse turn. Page 204. In 983, His Majesty gave the order that the aimas of the whole empire should not be let off by the Krorfs of each jiergunnah unless they brought the farmans in which their grants, subsistence-allowances, and pensions were described to the Cadr for ins])ection and verification. For this reason, a large number of worthy people, from the eastern districts up to the Bhakkar on the Indus, came to court. If an\' of them had a powerful protector in one of the grandees or near friends of His Majesty, he could manage to have his affair set- tled; but those who were destitute of such recommendations, had to bribe Saj'j'id ’Abdurrasul, the Shaikh’s headman, or make presents to his farrdshes, darbans (porters), s^ces (grooms), and metAer.9 (sweepers), ‘in order to get their blanket out of the mire.’ Unless, however, they had either strong recommenda- tions, or had recourse to bribery, they were utterly ruined. Many of t\iQ aimadars without obtaining their object died from the heat caused by the press of the crowds of petitioners. Though a report of this came to the ears of llis Majesty, no one dared to take these unfortunate people before the Emperor. And when the Shaikh, in all his pride and haughtiness, sat upon his Masnad (cushion) ; and influential grandees introduced to him, in his office, scientific or pious men, the Shaikh received them in his filthy way, paid respect to no one, and after much asking, begging and exaggerating, he allowed, for example, a teacher of the Rida^ah (a book on law) and otlier college books, 100 bighas, more or less ; and though such a man might have been for a long time in possession of more extensive lands the Shaikh took them away. But to men of no renown, to low fellows, even to Hindus, he gave free-hold lands as marks of personal favour. Hence science and scientific men fell in estimation. * * * The fate of Abdul Nabi has been related above. Akbar gave him money for the poor of Mecca and sent luni on a pilgrimage. Wlien he came back, he was called to account for the money was put in prison, and murdered ‘by some scoundrel’ in 9.92 A. H. 86 THE ORIGIN OF THE The next Cadr was Sultan Khwaiah. Matters relating to Sa^&rghals now took a very different course. Akbar had by this time rejected Islam, and the new Cadr, who had just returned from Makkah, became a member of the Divine Faith. The systematic persecution of the learned and the lawyers had commenced, and His Majesty inquired personally into all grants (vide Ferishta, p. 189, last para.). The lands were now steadily withdrawn, and according to Badaoni, who had managed to get 1,000 bighas at first, to the great disgust of Abdul Nabi, many a Mahommedan family was impoverished or utterly ruined. In 993, Fathullah, of Shi'rdz (vide Ferishta, p. 38), was appoint- ed Cadr. As the Sajjhrghal duties, and with them the dignity of the Cadr bad dwindled down to nothing, Fathullah, though Cadr, could be spared for missions to the Dakhin. Bad., p. 343. “ His Sbirazi servant Kamal ofiBciated for him during his absence, and looked after these lacklands of aimadars, who had a few spots here and there ; for the dignity of the Cadr had approached its hamal (perfection). Fathullah had not even the power of conferring five bighas; in fact he was an imaginary Cadr, as all lands had been withdrawn. And yet the lauds which had been withdrawn became the dwelling- places of wild amimals, and thus belonged neither to the aimadars nor to farmers. However, of all these oppressions, there is at least a record left in the books of the Cadr, though of the ofiice of the Cadr the name only is left. {Ferishta, page 368) Fathullah (the Cadr, himself) laid before His Majesty a bag containing the sum of Es 1,000, which his collector by means of oppression, or under the pre- text that an aimadar was not forthcoming or was dead, had squeezed out of the widows and unfortunate orphans of the Pergunnah of Basawar (which was his jagir), and said “My collectors have collected this much from the aimadars as a kifayat {i.e., because the collectors thought the Sayisrghdl holders had more than sufficient to live upon).” But the Emperor allowed him to keep the sum for himself. The next Cadr, Cadr Jahan, was a member of the Divine Faith. Though api^ointed Cadr immediately after the death of MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 87 Fathullali, Badaoni continues calling him Mufti-i-mamalik-i- mahrusah, the Mufti of the Empire, which had been his title before. Perhaps it was no longer necessary to have a separate officer for the Cadrship. Cadr Jahan continued to serve under Jahangir. A great portion of the Sayiirghdl lands is specified by Abul Fazl in the geographical tables of the Third Book. CHAPTEE III. The Physique, Features and Characteristic Traits of the Musalmans of Bengal. Whatever might have been the facial and other characteristics of the original Musahnan settlers, all the lineaments and traits thereof have been effaced and obliterated in their descendants in this country, by the effects of the climate and soil, during a long pro- cess of time. The fair and ruddy complexion of the IMuffhals and Pathans and the courage and valour of the Arabs and Ajams are no longer therefore to be found in their posterity in this country. It is indeed hardly possible for a race to maintain its peculiar characteristics against the influence of a foreign climate and of intercourse with foreign people, coupled with the stress of a hard life and poverty. Brahmans, Rajputs and Englishmen are said to have sprung from the same Aryan stock. But is it possible to guess from their appearance and habits that the Brahmans and the English are of the same stock ? The difference between them is as wide as that between the heaven and the earth. Professions and callings also bring about some modification in the physical appearance of men. See how a hunter’s complexion and appearance MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 89 becomes altered by exposure to sun and rain. Above all, the effects of poverty are most pernicious. Not- withstanding these several causes, there yet exists a material dilference between the physical constitution and appearances of those Musalmans of Bengal who are descended from Arabs and Ajams and the Hindus of this country. This ditference would be most con- spicuous if a comparison were made between persons of equal positions in the two communities, and who were also pursuing the same calling. Let us now consider the evidence of language. The dialects of the Musalmans of Bengal and its accentua- O tion differ widely from those of their Hindu neighbours. The Bengali language as spoken by these Musalmans has an admixture of Arabic and Persian words which fact is indicative of their foreign descent ; for change of religion does not necessitate a change in language. Had these Musalmans owed their origin to the conver- sion of the Hindus, they would have certainly spoken the same language as the Hindus. Moreover, the habits and customs of these Musalmans are quite dissimilar from those of their Hindu countrymen. This difference would be fully perceptible on a close examination of the modes of life and avocations followed by the males and females of these two communities. These evidences show that the major part of the large Musalman section of the Bengal population are descended from Arab, Iranian, Turkish and Afghan ancestors. Mr. H. H. Risley, who was deputed by Govern- ment to make an ethnographical survey of the tribes and castes of Bengal, has recently published a book 90 THE ORIGIN OP THE containing the results of his enquiries. As this work bears directly on the subject of our enquiry (the origin of the Musalmans of Bengal), it is desirable to notice here some of the operations of the ethnographical survey which have reference to the Musalmans. It is to be regretted that this official gentleman, while taking scientific measurements of the different races of Bengal, has committed a grave and griev- ous mistake, by which the Musalmans are placed in a disadvantageous light. The error is this : he has dealt with the Hindu community according to the order of its organization, deducing results of physical measurements separately for each of the castes into which the community is divided according to the vari- ous professions of the men. But with reference to the Musalmans, he has treated them en masse without any regard to their races and professions, working out but one result for the whole community in general; although there are many different races among the Musalmans of this country, such as the descendants of Arabs, Iranians, Turks, Afghans, and other foreign nations, as also of the vai'ious tribes of Hindustan, who had embraced Islam, and also men of different profes- sions ill this community. Professions, no doubt, produce appropriate effects on the physique of men, more espe- cially on that of the agriculturists and labourers in the fields, who are greatly exposed to the influences of the weathers, and who form more than 62 per cent, of the Miisalman population of Bengal. Such being the case, we question the accuracy of Mr. Risley s plan in find- ins a sinsle result for all the Musalmans taken as a MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 91 whole, and then comparing that solitary result with those of the separate castes of the Hindus. In this respect injustice has certainly been done to the Musalmans. It is indeed almost difficult to accurately trace the origin of the Musalmans of this country ; and although much change has taken place in their physical constitu- tion owino- to their intermin 2 :lino; with other races and from the effects of climate, soil, food, and modes of life, and in consequence of their professions and habits, yet a close examination of their forms and features, habits, and customs, would show that most of these Musalmans are descended from foreign ancestors. Correct results from comparison are obtainable only when the average result of the physical examination of a certain number of Musalmans professing one calling is compared with that of an equal number of men of any other race pursuing the same profession. Or, if the Musalman and Hindu communities were each properly classified according to rank, and then the men of one of the classes of the one were compared to those of the corresponding class of the other, fairly correct results can also be secured. The result of Mr. Risley’s anthropological survey, which had been submitted by him to the Ethnological Society of England, was thus epitomized in the Oudh Akhhar of the 15th September 1890 : — “The jjhysical measurements and anthropological examin- ation of the people have revealed the existence of two distinct races of men in Bengal, namely, the Aryan and the aboriginal. The former is represented by the Brahmans, Eajputs, and Sikhs. These generally have tall forms, light complexion and 92 THE ORIGIN OF THE fine noses, and are in general appearance superior to tlie middle class of Europeans. The Kols are a specimen of the latter. These have short stature, dark complexion, and snub noses^ and approach the African blacks in appearance. All eminent anthropologists agree in considering the nasal index the moat valuable race characteristic, and the observations made in India also lend support to this opinion. The races and tribes of Bengal are quite confused and blended. The social rank of a race becomes reduced in proportion to the increased .flatness of the nose. The lower a man’s origin the flatter is his nose, as resembling those of the African negroes ; the higher his origin the more he resembles the Europeans in appearance.” Mr. Eisley’s statement, that the Brahmans, Eajputs, and Sikhs represent the Aryan race, strikes tis as strange. For the Sikhs are not, in fact, any particular race, nor does the term in any way imply ethnological affinity between the individuals who come under that category. Any person, whether of Aryan or non-Aryan origin, who embraces the doctrines promulgated by BabaNanak is called a Sikh. The term is the class name of a religi- ous sect and not of any particular race or a branch of a race. Sikh is a Panjabi term meaning a “disciple.” Baba Nanak, the founder of the sect, addressed his disciples by this name. These disciples were called by their po.sterity “ Guru ke Sekh, ” i.e., the disciples of the founder of the religion. Any person, whether of high or low origin, becomes a Sikh on going through the initiatory ceremony which they call Paliel. The following are the rituals of the ceremony : — Shariat is prepared by dissolving hatashas into water ; into this shariat, the guru or the priest dips the toe of his right foot ; he then puts the point of a naked sword into it. MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 93 and afterwards imbibes a portion of it himself, and then gives the remainder to the novice to drink; and also sprinkles on his face a little of the sharhat, instructing him at the same time in the canons formulated by Gobind Singh, their tenth gu7'v, and enjoins upon him the due observance of those doctrines. There have been ten gurus of the Sikh creed, — from Guru Nanak down to Guru Govind Singh. All these Gurus belonged to the Khettri caste. It is mentioned in the history called The Makhzan-i~ Tanjah in respect to the races of the provinces. “ Be it known that the Sikhs predominate in the northern and the eastern parts of the Panjab. This (preponderance of the Sikhs) is mainly due to the fact that because this country remained for a long time subject to the Govern- ment of the Sikhs, the respect and esteem commanded by them induced most of the Hindus to turn Sikhs ; even the mehters and sweepers used to undergo the Pahel (the Sikh baptismal ceremony) and were called ‘ Dharanghareti Sikhs.’ Among the followers of this faith there are Hindus of every caste. But after one has undergone the Pahel ceremony, his former nationality is altogether changed, and he becomes a Sikh.” Likewise there are both Musalmans and Hindus among the Rajput tribe. Those of the tribe that adhere to the religion of their fathers, as well as those who have embraced Islam or those descended from them are all Rajputs. In the Panjab there are countless Musal- man Rajptits. Great injustice has indeed been done to the Musal- mans by Mr. Risley. His book entitled “ llie Tribes and Castes of Bengal ” contains the following table of 94 THE ORIGIN OF THE the average height and width of the noses of the different sects and castes inhabiting this country : — Names of the Tribes of Bengal. Average nasal height. Average nasal width. Brahman ... 49-7 36 Musalman ... 49-4 38-3 Kayestha ... 60-2 35-3 Bagdi 46-7 .37-6 Baori 46-6 36-7 Chandal 96-2 36-7 Goalah 49 36-4 Kybatta 48 36-6 Mali 4.3 9 41-5 Mai Behari 44-1 41 Mochi 491 41 Pod 491 36-8 Kajbansi ... 48-9 37-6 Shadgop ... 45’6 37-7 According to this table, the average nasal height of the Brahmans is 49 ‘7 and the width 35, or the height exceeds the width by 14’7 ; and the average nasal height of the Musalmans is given as 49‘4 and the width 38'3; the height in this case exceeds the width by ll'l. This difterence between the excesses of the nasal heights of the two has accrued owing to the different castes of the Hindus being severally dealt with and the Musal- mans en masse and without any classification whatever. If we average the nasal heights and the widths of twelve individuals of the twelve Hindu castes mentioned in the above table, viz. (1) Brahman ; (2) Kayestha ; (3) Bagdi ; (4) Baori ; (5) Chandal ; (6) Goalah ; (7) Kybatta ; (8) Mali ; (9) Mochi; (10) Pod ; (11) Rajbansi ; (12) Shadgop ; and, likewise, those of MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 95 twelve different Musalmans, — according to the figures given in the book under notice ; the mean nasal height of the Hindus would be 47'8 and the width 3G'5 ; or the height exceeding the width by ll’l, and those of the Musalmans 50'2 and 38’8, respectively; the nasal height exceeding the width by 11'4. It is remarkable that the slight modification, viz., averaging the given figures, gives quite a new turn to the results. Another remarkable fact is that in the book in ques- tion the particulars of measurements of the Musalmans of Eastern Bengal alone, are laid down. The anomaly seems to have been carried to further excess, as we find that altogether 185 Musalman subjects were examined. Out of this number, 27 in Chittagong ; 57 in Mymen- singh ; 13 in Tipperah ; 38 in Dacca ; 33 in Faridpore ; and the remaining 17 in Barisal, Noakhally and Pabna. But as regards the Hindu subjects, they were examined in equal numbers in all the Eastern, Central and Western Districts of Bengal. The names of the subjects mentioned in the book engendered the suspicion that none but the lowest orders of Musalmans were examined ; and in order to satisfy myself on this point, I interrogated on the subject the Hospital Assistant, Babu Komod Behari Samanta, who during the operations assisted Mr. Risley, and to whom the work of the anthropological measure- ments of the subjects in Bengal was exclusively en- trusted. I learnt from him that he jmrposely did not take the measurements of any Musalman of birth, position and respectability, but of only their lowest classes, because he said it was the express order of THE OEIGIN OF THE 96 Mr. Eisley to take measurements of only the low-class Musalmans of Eastern Bengal, and of these not even to examine nor include in the records of his examinations the physical measurements of such as possessed regular features. For this reason he visited some of the jails of the Eastern Districts of Bengal, and took the mea- surements of some prisoners therein, and transmitted them to Mr. Risley, by whom they were ultimately embodied in his work under notice. , . i The order of Mr. Risley, to examine exclusively the low-class Musalmans of Eastern Bengal, and even of these not to record the measurements of those who pos- sessed svmmetrical features, is certainly a most curious and peculiar one. Komod Baku himself says that the nature of the order is an inexplicable mystery to him. Under these circumstances, how can Mr. Risley s opinion regarding the Musalmans be just and favourable to them? And how can the results of his anthropological and ethnographical examinations of the Musalmans, as Idedin^ii book, be correct and reh^^^^ , We however, assert that, apart from all technical and scientific considerations, any person who possesses the least degree of judgment can perceive that the o-enerality of the Musalmans of Bengal have better forms, features and colour than the other races of this country ; in other words, the “ tall figure, ligh ^ complexion, fine nose and generally good appearance which, according to Mr. Risley’s opinion, are the data of a superior race, are more to be met with among the hitrh-class Musalmans than among the Hindus ot an equal class. As regards the nasal index, which is deemed MT'SALMANS OF BENGAI.. 97 to be the most valuable race characteristic, we perceive this peculiarity that the uoses of the non-Aryan in- habitants of this country are wide, small and thick ; while those of the generality of the Musalmans are thin, high and erect. In short, the noses of the high- born Musalmans are generally finer than those of the Hindus of the same position ; and likewise the noses of the lower orders of the former are better than those of the same classes of the latter. An examination of the noses of these two people alone would show that the generality of the Musalmans of this country are not descended from the original native races and tribes of Bengal. G CHAPTER IV. An Account of the Ancient Musalman Families in Bengal. It is very difficult to give the history of the ancient Musalman families in Bengal. For many of them have been so wrecked and ruined that even the members thereof hardly know their own lineage and the parti- culars of their ancestors ; ignorance and poverty have so much reduced them to a low position that they are now altogether fused with the masses. Again, often the heads of some of the high and noble families have had to fly for their lives to some remote and insulated part of the country on the revolutions of Government, where they concealed their identity and passed their lives in obscurity. This practice had to be resorted to, not only during the time of the Mughal supremacv, but on the occasion of each change of Government, both before and after that epoch. The descendants of these refugees generally lived so long in a degraded condition that this altered state became at last the natural condition of their families. Many a family have also sunk gradually into utter obscurity owing to the growing ignorance of its members. Those ancient families that have been safe from the destructive operations of the above-mentioned causes are MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 99 still numerous in Bengal. We are unable to enumerate them all for the reasons (i) thataZi of them are not known to us ; (ii) that they are so numerous that a mere catalogue of them would fill volumes. But we shall give the particulars of some of the ancient and well-known families by way of illustration. It should, in the first place, he understood that there are four principal races, viz., (1) 8yyads ; (2) Shaikhs ; (3) Mughals and (4) Pathans, that are considered to constitute the Musalman gentry in this country. (1) The Syyad race take the precedence of the other three in rank, and is generally esteemed the most dio'nified. This noble race is divided into two main lines, — one is the branch of the Beni Fatemite Syyads, and the other that of the Ulvi Beni Fatemite Syyads. Those who are descended from Hasan or Husain (the peace of God he on them !), that is to say, those descended from Hazarat Ali and his wife, the holv Lady Fatema (may the mercy of God be on them !) are called Fatemite Syyads. The Ulvi Syyads are those who are descended from (Hazrat) Ali by his wives other than the Lady Fatema. The Fatemite Syyads are superior in rank to the Ulvi Syyads as being the descendants of the Prophet Mahommed (peace be on him !). The Fatemite branch of the Syyads has, again, several offshoots, each of which is denominated by the name of any of the twelve Imams (peace on them !), or to speak more definitely, the line of each of these Imam descendants is designated according to his own name ; such as the Hosaini Syyads, Hasani Syyads, Moosavi Syyads, Razvi Syyads, Kazemi Syyads, 100 THE ORIGIN OF THE Takavi Syvads, Nakavi Syyads, and so on. Likewise some of the Syyads name their lines after those of some renowned eminent men among their ancestors, such as Zaidi, Ismaili, Taba Tabai, Kadri, and the like. Some families are designated by the land they inhabit, as Bokhari, Kermani, Tabrezi, Shabzawari, &c. Those Syyads that are descended, on their father’s and mother's sides, from (Hazrats) Hasan and Hosain are distin- guished as Hasani-ul-Hosaini, and are foremost in rank and dignity among all the rest of the branches and families of the Syyads. (2) Koraishi Shaikhs . — This race is very respect- able, for the Prophet of God (may peace be on him !) belonged to the stock from which it has sprung. Several lines branch out from this race ; each line bearing the name of the Sehahie (or companion of the Prophet) from which it has descended, as, for instance, Siddiki, Farooki, Asmani, Abbasi, Khaledi, and the like. Both the Syyads and Koraishi Shaikhs are of Arab origin. In Iran, Afghanistan andKhorasan, the descendants of great saints, renowned, learned men and celebrated ecclesiastics are also surnamed Shaikhs. (o) Mughal . — This is a Mongolian race ; Chinghiz Khan was the greatest monarch of this race. The religion of this people was originally Paganism. But after Chinghiz Khan’s grandson embraced Islam, masses of this nation, following the examj)le of their king, became converted to this faith. All the kings of the Chaghtai line were Musalmans. It was due to the IMughal dominion in India that this race became largely introduced among the Indian population. These people MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 101 have the appellation of Mirza or Beg. There are many branches and otfshoots of this race. (4) Patkans . — This is an Afghan race, and its original home is Afghanistan. It was owing to the Pathans holding sway for a long time in India that this people has become so largely diffused over this country. They are designated Khans. This race also has many branches and ramifications. It is to be added that men belonging to the native races of this country who embraced Islam were, as a matter of courtesy, denominated either Shaikh or Khan or Malick. Of the four principal races mentioned above, a great majority of the Musalman population of Bengal is composed of the various classes of Syyads, Shaikhs, Mughals and Pathans, or to speak more definitely of the Syyads, Hasani-ul Hosaini, Hasaini, Hosaini, Eazwi Musawi, Nakwi, Takwi, Zaidi, Ismaili, Taba-Tabai, Ulvi, Bokhari, Kermani, Sbabzawari, &c., &c., and of the Shaikhs, Siddiki, Farooki, Osmani, Abbasi, Kbaledi, Harssi, &c. ; and Mirzas, Begs, and Khans, that is, Mu- ghals and Pathans. Venerable and eminent Syyads and Shaikhs who, during the time of the kings of Gaur, occupied them- selves in imparting religious instruction to the people and as spiritual leaders were venerated by the Court, and distinguished by the titles of Shah or Khondkar. Their descendants, up to the present day, bear these ecclesiastical designations. The application of the ap- pellation Khondkar is local to this country. Since the time of the kingdom of Gaur it has been in use to 102 THE ORIGIN OF THE denominate venerable ecclesiastics and tbeir descendants here. Among the Mughals and Pathans there is a class called Malick, an epithet of distinction pertaining chiefly to the Ghori and Khilji Ameers (chiefs and noblemen). But these Ameers sometimes honoured proselytes from the Hindu religion with their own title and called them Malicks as themselves. Henceforth they and their descendants have borne that appellation. Sundry other Musalman converts and their descendants are like- wise known by the appellations of Shaikh and Khan. Among the classes called Shaikh, Khan and l\Ialick there are both well-born and low-born men. The classes called Kazi and Chaudhari belong to one or the other of the four foreign races, vi:., Shaikh, Syyad, Mughal and Pathan. They hold this surname owing to some one of their ancestors ha\ing filled some official posi- tion and acquired a corresponding designation. There are some Musalmans in this country who, although of a purelv Arab origin, are called, as a matter of respect, Thakur, which is the special denomination of the leading- men of the Hindus. And others, because their ancestors were originally Hindu Thakurs, Biswas and the like, retained their caste denominations even after their con- version, and their descendants are called by those appella- tions up to this day. Among the gentry of this country there are some families who can trace up their genealogi- cal tree even to Adam (may peace be on him !}. Among them also are high-born persons who have descended from a line of ancestors whose male and female sides were of equally high origin and respectability, never intermarrying beyond the circle of their own kith and MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 103 kin, or under any circumstance forming any unequal connections. With regard to the four old divisions of Bengal, viz., Karh, Barind, Bagri and Bangodesh, the Musalman gentry live chiefly in the first and the last, and the common people in the remaining two. Again, the de- scendants of the Musalmans of the times of the Ghori and the Khilji dynasties predominate in Rarh and Barind, and those of the Musalman comers during the Mughal period in Bangodesh and Bagri. The former live mostly in rural parts, and the latter reside chiefly in cities and towns and their immediate surroundings. The great majority of the good and high families live in the villages and hamlets, the reason of which, as has been already stated, was that in former times, cities and towns were much liable to the disasters attending the revolutions of Governments, and were frequently made the scenes of political tragedies, and also that Aimaa, Madadi-ma ash and similar other grants made by the rulers to the gentry lay commonly in rural parts, and consequently the grantees went to live on their estates in those parts. This state of things was not peculiar to Bengal, hut general to all parts of Hindustan, and gave occasion to a very large number of noble families living in the country throughout India. We will now briefly notice the particulars of some of the eminent families in Bengal. The most noble and pre-eminent family is that of the Nawab Hazim, in Murshidabad, which is unsurpassed, if not unequalled, by any family in the whole of India. This great family belongs to the Taba-Tabai branch of the Hasani-ul 104 THE ORIGIN OF THE Hosani Syyads. Wherever and whenever the collateral branches of this family have lived, they have invariably exercised power and commanded general respect. The most exalted aristocratic rank of this family is only equalled by the great dignity of its highly distinguished origin. The particulars of this family are given in great detail in the Undatid Taleh Fi Ansahi al-i Ahi Taleh in the Tariklii Maitsuri. In the city of Murshidabad and its environs many ancient families of Shaikhs, Mughals and Pathans reside. Among the gentry of the Mufassil, the Syyads of Fateh Singh, Soonti and Balghattiaa, and the Khondkars of Fateh Singh, and also the Kazis and Chaudharies are famous for their good descent, and their families are very ancient and respectable. The Khondkars of the locality are descended from the very old and respect- able line of Abu Bakr, the first Khalif. Kazi Shaikh Sirajuddin, their ancestor, came to Bengal in the reign of Sultan Ghias-uddin, King of Gaur, and was after- wards elevated to the bench of the Quazi-ul Quzzat or Chief Justice of the Metropolitan city of Gaur. This family is distinguished for the good origin of both its male and female ascending lines. Sultan Ghias-uddin reigned from 769 to 775 Hijrees. In the district of Birbhoom, the Syyads, Shaikhs and Pathans constitute the Musalman gentry. Of these, the Syyads, Shaikhs and Chaudharies of Khooshtigiri, Damdama, Kawadah, Hazratpore, Surgaun, Mandgaun, Ac., and the Pathans of Kagar and other places, are A'ery famous. The Syyads of Khooshtigiri and other localities are of a highly respectable origin, and their MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 105 families are of great antiquity. Their common ancestor came to this country in 899 Hijree, in the reign of Feroze Shahj King of Gaur, and their forefathers have always occupied positions of honour and dignity. .Amonff the numerous gentle families in the district of Burdwan, the most ancient and eminent are those of the Syyads of Jafarabad, Raigaun, Changharia, Bagha, &c., the Khondkars of Samsar, Sayer, Moorgaun, Kasyarah, &c., and the Shaikhs of Mangalkot, Jhiloo, Aral, Keogaun and other places. In the district of Hughly, Pundwa is important as a place of residence, from a very remote period, of a large congregation of ancient and respectable Musalman families. There are also other places in this district where high and good Musalman families reside. Among the gentry of Midnapore the Syyads and Pathans are very famous. In the district of the 24-Pergunnahs, ever since Calcutta became the capital of India, every description of Musalmans have flocked to it and make up an important section of the metropolitan population; and among these there are many of a high birth and dis- tinguished origin. In the Mufassil, too, there are good and respectable families of Musalmans. Among the gentry, of the district of Nadia, the Khondkars of Bamanpokhur and the Syyads and Khondkars of Betai, Meherpore and other places are famous for their distinguished lineage. In the district of Rajshahi, the Khondkars of Bogra and Nattore are very famous for their noble origin. They belong to the race of Abbasi Shaikhs, and are 106 THE ORIGIN OF THE descended from the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid. Their family is very ancient in this country. It came here during the period of the Gaur kings, and has ever been held in high estimation and great respect. Their ancestors Khondkar Moin-ul-Islam, Khondkar Badr-ul- Islam and Khondkar Rafi-ul-Islam occupied pre-eminent j)ositions and were among the leading men of their times, and mention of them is made in the various histories of Bengal, in connection with the accounts of the kings of Gaur. The Pathans of Kattore and other })laces are also very famous. In the district of Maldah, the Syyads and Pathans are very famous for their good lineage and honourable descent. In the city of Dacca and its surrounding parts there are numerous respectable and ancient families of Syyads, Shaikhs, Kazis, Shahs and other races and classes of the Musalmans. In the districts of Farid pore, Mymensingh, Jessore, Pabna, Deenajpore, Rangpore, Bakarganj, Noahkolly and Comillah there are numerous high and good fami- lies of Syyads, Shaikhs, Pathans, &c. ; so also in the district of Sylhet and the adjoining districts. Like- wise there are numbers of respectable and ancient families of Musalmans in the district of Chittagong and the adjacent districts. Besides the above there are countless other noble, high, respectable and ancient IMusalman families in Bengal, but my limited informa- tion on the subject and the narrow scope of this chapter preclude any special mention of them here, for which shortcoming I hope to be excused. CHAPTER V. The Occupation of the Musalmans. According to the ancient and prevailing customs among the well-born Musalmans, that is to say, among the Syyads, Shaikhs, Mughals and Pathans of Arab, Turkish, Iranian and Afghan origin, the best and most honourable mode in their opinion, of gaining their livelihood, was by the professions of the sword and the jien, and also from the income and realization of landed states and property. All professions except these two and all handicrafts and shop-keeping were regarded by them as derogatory to their rank and dignity. ]\Iore- over, it was not allowable for them, according to their notions of respectability, to till and cultivate lands with their own hands ; and they used to have their lar.ds cultivated by hired labour, and so to reap the benefit from their produce. Whoever departed from these established customs was looked down upon by the whole class, and lost the good opinion of his fellows. These usages were not peculiar to the high class Musalmans, but were also in full force among the high caste Hindus. Formerly no Rajput could pursue any other calling than that of the sword, nor could a Brahman adopt any other except the ecclesiastical profession. 108 THE ORIGIN OF THE But times have changed, and with them these old and inconvenient customs. The Rajputs have gone beyond the limited scope allowed to their operations by their caste laws which bound them to a single kind of profession, and are found engaged in various occupa- tions, even tilling their lands with their own hands. The Brahmans have also done the same, and are employed in various services and pursue various callings and live on incomes derived from landed property, the only prohi- bition of custom is against driving the plough with their own hands ; but they may perform all other agricultural functions, as those that can be done with the spade, hoe, scythe, or other implements, and also such as sowing, the transplantation of seedling, the weeding, and irrigation of the fields, the reaping of corns, the gathering in of the harvest, and the such other work. Formerly the proper and decent way for the Musal- man gentry to gain their livelihood was, as has been mentioned before, by means of civil and military pro- fessions, and from the income of lands. But when these sources failed them, they were obliged to take u]) different kinds of arts and professions, to enter into various services and to engage in agricultural labour. The soldier classes, when they failed to obtain military employment, took exclusively to agriculture, considering all other occupation as unsuited to their temperament. But among the superior classes of Musalmans and Hindus certain kinds of service and most of the handicrafts are still regarded as highly derogatory, and whoever of them engages in these low occupations becomes MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. loy (lograded and loses bis social position. The result of the high class Musalinans, in former times, consider- ing trade as not a respectable profession, is that there has been scarcely, if ever, any great or rich merchant among the native Mnsalmans of this country. Musal- man traders and shop-keepers found in any ]>art oi' Hindustan are mostly descended from Hindu ancestors belonging to the trading classes, who even after their conversion to the Mahommedan faith have adhered to their ancestral profession and also have bred u}> their children in the same profession. If, however, any Musalman of birth, belonging to the pure race of Syyads, Shaikhs, Mughals and Pathans, is found engaged in trade, which is very I'are, and if his case is properly eiKjuired into, he would most probably be found not to belong to any ancient family in this country, or if so, it would then appear that some one of his ancestors had been obliged to engage in this profession under some great emergency and pressing necessity. The fact is, that formerly among the aristoci'acy and gentry of the Musalinans, their ancient and time- honoured customs which were, indeed, most strict and stringent, held undisputed sw^ay. Being thus precluded, by their old customs, from the best means of increasing their capital, that is, trade, they were unable to augment their national wealth, and have now become reduced to the last degree of poverty and indigence. The scope of Government service is very narrow in comparison with the wide latitude of trade, and the emolument of the former is far smaller in proportion to the gains of the latter. Lands, too, have a limited no THE ORIGIN" OF THE extent, and the profits of agriculture cannot impart so much prosperity as those of commerce. Of all profes- sions trade has the widest latitude : its gains are un- bounded and its benefits countless. No nation can acquire wealth and attain prosperity except by trade. The trading nations are the richest and most prosperous in the world. Those who reject trade in fact deprive themselves of the greatest source of wealth. The Brahmans and Rajputs are, from the same cause, as poor and impecunious as the Musalmans ; while the Jews, although their nation does not possess any terri- tory anywhere in the world, are yet everywhere in affluent and easy circumstances owing to their trading propensities and to the blessings of trade. Our co-religionists, although they did not view with disapprobation commerce and trade on a large scale, considered, however, shop-keeping and retail-selling as a paltry business and a non-respectable one. But it should be borne in mind that it is very difficult to become a successful merchant at once and without pre- viously having had experience as a shop-keeper and a retail-seller. Indeed, it is only by slow degrees that men can acquire proficiency in any art or trade and rotec- tion. For some time their hopes were fully realized ; and so long as their rules and practices formed the principles of the British administration, they continued to be benefited by that Government, so much so that their thoughts were scarcely turned towards the future. The unprecedented safety of person and property, which they enjoyed under the British regime, was really a great boon to them. The principles of Government were, however, gradually changed, and the adminis- tration was ultimately remodelled upon an entirely new 116 THE ORIGIN OF THE plan. But unfortunately the Musalinans could not so alter their course of conduct as to suit the changes in the administration, and they adhered to their former modes of life and their old habits. On the one hand, the Musalinans, partially from im- providence and })artially from their religious prejudices, held off from English education, and held to their national literatures, viz., the Arabic and the Persian. The result of their backwardness was that they were deprived of the immense advantages accruing from an Eno-hsh education. Would that the matter had been otherwise ! For in that case the Musalinans of Bengal would have this day been much in advance of their co-religionists in other parts of India who are making rapid progress, and they could have even surpassed their Hindu countrymen in political power and as- cendency because, with regard to the other parts of India, the Musalinans of this coiintiy came earlier in contact with the British nation, and were at the outset more directly connectinl with the English administra- tion than the Hindus. On the other hand, the English authorities, owing to their being strangers to the country, could not rightly judge the wishes and feelings of Miisalmans : and so they suspected their loyalty, thinking that, as they had been supplanted in the ruling ]>ower by the British nation, they must naturally entertain hostile feelings and might on occasion act treacherously towards them. The authorities thought further that as the Hindus were the orio'inal inhabitants of the country they ought to be given every encouragement and helj). Being thus MUSALMANS OF ]’.ENGAL. 117 prejudiced against the IMusalmans and pre|)0ssessed in favour of the Hindus, the rulers l)egan to repress the; former and make much of tlie latter. But their bias towards one side and eonse(piently against the othei’ was quite unwarranted by reason. For while the Musalnians had voluntarily favoured the cause of the English when yet possessing power, how, then, might they be reasonably imagined to entertain hostility when they no longer possessed the power to give etfect to such hostility ? Nor could it be right to think of the Hindus as the original inhabitants of this country, for the aboriginal races are the Kols, Sonthals, Bheels, and the like tribes : these and not the Hindus were the first inhabitants of this country. If the Hindus be of th«* Aryan stock, then the only difference between their relation to these lands and that of the native IMusalmans is that they came to this country, from Central Asia, a few centuries prior to the Musalmans. At last the improvidence of the Musalmans, coupled with the prejudice of the authorities, has produced this dire result, that the Musalmans have become almost totally estranged from all de[)artments of State employ- ment. This circumstance has o})erated most injuriously on the ancient and liigli families of the IMusalmans, and has, in course of time, caused the utter ruin of many such families and threatens all of them with the same fate. But the common orders of the Musalmans who are most numerous in this country and whose occupation is cultivation, and also those who, failing to obtain State service, have engaged in agricultural pursuits, have been increasing in prosperity, owing to 118 THE ORIGIN OF THE the thriving condition of trade and the outlets thereby opened for agricultural produce, and also owing to the internal peace and the security of property afforded by the British Government. The labouring classes are also in a comfortable and happy condition owing to the increased and rising rates of wages. Consequently, it our opinion, all the inhabitants of this country have been benefited by the British rule, except the high and ancient Musalman families — almost all of whom have been reduced to a deplorable condition, while many of them have been totally wrecked and ruined. It now remains to be considered whether the Musal- mans of this country are agreeable to the British rule, and whether they entertain sentiments of loyalty towards that Government. Let Sir W. W. Hunter or Colonel Nassau Lees say on this matter whatever they please, but, so far as we are aware of the state of feelings of our co-religionist countrymen, as being ourselves of their class and community, we can fully affirm that we Musalmans are not in the least ill-wishers to the Govern- ment, and that it is not for a moment our wish that the British Government should be supplanted in this country by either the Russian Power or even by the Amir of Cabul, although the latter is the Musalman ruler of a neighbouring country. In fact, all that we seek and desire is our own welfare and safety, and such a desire on our part is by no means opposed to other religious or social institutions. On the contrary, it is incumbent upon us to seek our personal welfare and benefit without causing harm or doing wrong to others. Our Holy Prophet (may the peace and mercy of God MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 119 be on him !) has directed ns to quit even the Kaba, the House of God, if thei’e be no peace and security within its precincts, and to seek the same in the territory of the Christian King of Abyssinia, if to be found there.* This is the Prophet whom w'e follow, and his injunctions do we obey, and we seek our welfare in the manne r indicated by him. The only complaint we have is with regard to the apathy of Government towards us and our sinking condition. We make this complaint because through such unconcern and inditference on the part of Government, we are gradually sinking lower. Should, however, any one arbitrarily and unjustly interpret this as a sign of disaffection on the part of us Musalmans, let him do so. Being victims of the errors of our rulers, in not obtaining our due share, we are waiting, full of impatient expectations, to see what justice the Government in its ])aternal care to our claims will do. * During the early days of Islam, while it barely maintained itself in the Hashimite quarter of Mecca, and Mahomed relied for protection against the unbelieving Koreish mainly upon his uncle Abu Talib in the fifth year of the Prophet’s ministry, tofik place the first Hegira or flight from the land of persecution to “ a country wherein no one was wronged, — a land of righteousness.” This was the Christian Kingdom of Abyssinia ruled over by the Najashee or Negus, “ a just king.” Among the emigrants on this occasion were the Prophet’s own son-in-law, Othman, the son of Allan, and his wife, the Prophet’s daughter. Here the emigrants were kindly treated, and all the efforts of the Koreish to dislodge them were unavailing. Next year, the sixth of the ministry, the persecution at Mecca redoubling, a second emigration thither took place, more numerous than the first, so that we are told, the number of the Faithful in this Christian country reached 101, without counting their little ones. Here they dwelt in peace and quietness : many of them remained till long after the victorious promulgation of Islam, and did not rejoin Mahomed until the expedition to Khaiber, in the seventh year of the Hegira. — Rauzat-ns-Safa, 120 THE ORIGIN OF THE We trust, however, that when our rulers become better acquainted with us, they will surely show a greater consideration for us. Note to Chapter 1. The Census of 1891 shows that in Bengal Maho- medans have increased by 1,953,620. In 1881 their number was 21,704,727, and in 1891 was 23,658,347. It is most probable that the proselytizing character of Islam has gained some converts, but the actual con- version from other faiths to that of Islam, during the decade of 1881 — 1891, has had very little to do with the cause of this increase. On this point the Census Officer’s remarks in the Census Report are just and correct. He says : “ It is certain that the growth of Musalmanism in Bengal Proper, is connected rather with physical than doctrinal forces.” It is not statisti- cally proved that any part of Bengal contains a very considerable number of converts who were non-Musal- mans in 1881, but embraced Islam within the last ten years ; neither is it shown by figures that any parti- cular district of Bengal has added a few hundreds of converts to the church of Islam. The increase of Musalmans, as disclosed by the Census of 1891, resulted partly from the better jnanagement with which the last Census operations were carried on, and chiefly from the fact that the Musalmans who, formerly, being under a false impression that the object of the Census was either to levy some new tax per head or to recruit men for the army from among them, concealed their real number, have now, by lapse of time and experience, MUSALMANS OF BENGAL. 121 had these misapprehensions removed and therefore gave an accurate enumeration of themselves and the members of their family. The increase of Musalmans is also largely due to polygamy and widow-re-marriage, which are specially more common among the people of the eastern districts where the Mahomedan population is predominant. The Musalmans, with their varied and more nutritious dietary, are of superior physique, and this increases their growth and fecundity. Thus one of the striking features which the Census of 1891 presents, is that the Musalmans of Bengal Proper, within the last nineteen years, have not only overtaken their Hindu brethren, but have out-numbered them by a million and-a-half. INDEX. Page. Abul Fazl quoted, see also Ain-i-Akhari 82 Abdul Nabi, his treatment of learned men ... 85 , pilgrimage to Mecca 85 (Cadr-us-Cadur), his great authority ... 83, 84 Abyssinia, Musalman refugees in ... 119 Afghan invasions of Bengal ... 49 rule in Bengal resembled the feudal system ... 76* Ahmad Shah rules in Bengal ... 17 Aima, definition of ... ... ... 71, 79 granted instead of salaries 66, 71 granted exclusively to Musalmans 73 in which districts to be found 72 , resumption of, during Mughal dynasty 71 Ain-i-Akhari quoted ... ... 67, 77, • 79, 82 Akbar annexes Bengal ... 20 deports learned Musalmans to Bengal 35 , his rejection of Islam ... ... 86 , land revenue under 69, 70, 77* , reasons for cancelling grants 83, 86 reign, quoted from Ferishta 35 , resumption of tenures by ... 82 , royal grants by ... 67, 71 Akharnama quoted 49, 50, 63 Ala-ud-din (Hosain Shah) rules in Bengal ... 18, 31 Khilji, grants cancelled by 83 124 INDEX. Page. Ali-ud-din Khilji, makes his key-bearer Cadr 83 Al-tamgha granted instead of salaries 66 Armenian settlers in Bengal ... 42 Aryan element in Bengal ... 55 Assam conquered by Mir Jumla 64 , invasion of, by Hosain Shah ... 64 Aumils appointed for revenue purposes ... 78 Azd-ud-Daiolah, partition of estates by ... 68 Badaoni quoted ... 84 Bakhtyar Khilji conquers Bengal ... 6, 23 Barbak Shah Purbi rules in Bengal ... 17 Behar, History of, quoted 9 Bengal Administration Eeport quoted 3 , ancient divisions of 73 , Boghra Khan rules in ... 13 , conquest of, by Mahomedans 6 , early commerce 9+ , Mahommedan settlers in 9+ , Ghias-ud-din’s invasion of ... 13 increase of Musalman population in ... 22, 31 , Nazims of, Chronological List ... ...11—22 Proper, Musalmans in ... ... ... 1,2 subject to Delhi ... 10 under the Mughal dynasty ... 37 Beverley, Mr. H., injustice of his theory 63 quoted ... 54, 56 on conversions to Islam ... ... 54, 64 Birbhoom, Musalman gentry near 104 Blochmaun, Dr., quoted ... 63, 82 Boghra Khan rules in Bengal 13 Brahmans, occupation of ... ... 108 quit Nadia 8 British Govt, a benefit to all the Inhabitants of this country except to the Musalman nobles 118 agreeable to Musalmans ... ... 118 INDEX. 125 Page. British Govt, and t\x& zemindars ... ... 79, 81 , its apathy towards the condition of Musal- man gentry ... ... ... 119 , resumption of land tenures ... ... 81 , safety of person and property under ... 115 treat Hindus more favourably ... 116 Buchanan, Dr., quoted ... ... ... 9 Burdwan, Musalman gentry near ... ... 105 Burton, Sir Eichard, quoted ... ... ... 61 Cadr, or Cadr-us-Cadur, powers and duties of ... 82, 83 , authority limited by Akbar ... ... 84 , list of, under Akbar ... ... ... 84 open to corruption ... ... ... 83 Census Eeport, 1891 ... ... 1, 2, 120 Census Eeport, 1872 ... ... ... 54 Conversions to Islam ... ... ... 54, 55 Crown lands under Musalman rule ... ... 77* Daud Shah, rules in Bengal ... ... ... 20, 36 defeated by Munaim Khan, Khan Khanan ... 49 his death ... ... ... 49 Davenport’s Apologj/ for Mahomed and the Koran quoted 59 Delhi, Emperors of, appoint Viceroys in Bengal ... lo ■, Emperors of. Chronological List ... n — 22 ■, famine in ... * ... ...27,28 , Musalmans rule at ... ... ... li , the refuge of Musalmans from Central and Western Asia ... ... ...44 — 46 East India Company, first appearance in Bengal ... 10 and the zemindars ... ... 79 Emin-ul-Mulk, rebellion of ... ... ... 29 Fakhr-uddin rules in Bengal ... ... ..10,15 Famine in Delhi ... ... ...27,28 126 INDEX. Page. i^amajis, reduction of ... ... 03 required to establish titles ... ... 74 Fateh Shah rules in Bengal ... ... jg Feruhta quoted 6, 7, 28, 29, 32, 34, 35, 44, 83 Fifth Eeport, the, quoted ... ... 77* Gaur, itsMusalman population ... , dispersal of its inhabitants , grants by the Kings of ... , Musalman spiritual instructors at ... Ghias ud-din invades Bengal , his rule in Bengal Ghori dynasty of Delhi succeeded by the Khilji Government assessment of ainia land Governors of Bengal, list of Grant, Mr. John, quoted Grants of land by the Crown 47 48 71 ... 101 13 15, 23, 24 25 73 ... 11, 16 81 67 Hafiz invited to Lucknawti Haji Ilyas rules in Bengal Hamilton’s Hindoostan quoted ... Higgins, Godfrey, quoted Hindus farmed Afghan estates ... not the original inhabitants emjdoyed as zemindars ... Historical evidence Historj of Assam quoted Hooghly, the principal port of Bengal Hosain Khan Kirmili received by Ala-ud-din Hosain Siiah rules in Bengal invades Assam Hosain Shah Sharki received by Ala-ud-din Hughly, Musalman gentry near Hunter, Sir W. W., on the ancestors of the Musalmans of Bengal... 15 15 22 58 76* 117 78 6 64 39 31 18 64 31 105 54 9, 52, 73, 118 quoted INDEX. 127 Page. Ibrahim Lodi’s family seek refuge in Bengal ... 32 Ibrahim Khan defeats Isa Khan • •• 33 Ilakadars resided on their estates • •• 76 llakas bear Musalman names • »« 76 Imad-us-Saadat quoted • •• 40 Islam as a Political System quoted ... 59 Jagir holders, descendants of, still in Bengal ... 82 Jagirs granted instead of salaries ... 66 reverting to the Crown ... • •• 68 , revenue from, under .A kbar • •• 77* described ... ... • •• 79, 80 , frequent changes in ... „. • •• 81 , resumption of, by the British 81 Jalal-ud-din converted to Islam and reigns in Bengal 16 Jews, their trading propensities no Kanauj, Battle of ... 30 Kans or Kanis, Eajah • •• 16,47 Kasim Ali Khan, resumption of aimas 73 Kaj/esthas employed as zemindars ... • •• 78 Khalasa or Crown lands 68, 77,* 78, 82 land revenue, under Akbar 77* Khan Jahan, Governor of Bengal 20 Khooshtigiri, Musalman gentry near 104 Kings of Bengal, list of ... 11, 22 Koraishi Shaikhs, the, described 100 Kutb-uddin Aibak, Emperor of India ... 6 Kykobad, Emperor of Delhi 24, 25 , his death ... 27 Lachman Eai rules in Bengal 7 Lakhiraj land tenures 69, 70 , resumption of, by the British 74 Land, grants of, by the Crown ... 67 , resumption of, by the Crown ... 68 , by the British ... • «« 74 128 INDEX. Page. Landholders guilty of, dishonesty ... 69 tenures 69, 70 Lees, Col. Nassau, on Musalman loyalty 118 Luckhnawti, Ghias-ud-din’s capital 15, 24 , Hafiz of Shiraz invited 15 subjugated by Bakhtyar Khilji f .. 8 rnentioned in the Tabdqudt-i-Nasiri ... 7 2fadacl-i-ma’aish granted instead of salaries ... 66, 67 defined ... 79, 82 Mahomed Amin, his arrival in Bengal 40 appointed Subadar of Oudh ... 40 Mahomed Bakhtyar Khilji, conquest of Bengal .. 6 Mahomed Tughlak, Emperor of India ... 27, 28 , his reception of refugees 45 Mahomedan conquest of Bengal ... 6 Mahmood Shah rules in Bengal ... 18 Malik Andhal rules in Bengal ... 18 Malick Nizam-ud-din, his influence over Kykobad ... 26 , his death by poison ... 26 Makhzan-i-Panjah quoted ... 93 Mantakhahat Tawarikh quoted ... 36 Mansahdars, duties of ... 79, 80 appointments cancelled ... 81 Mansahi Jagirs ... ... 79, 80, 82 Midnapore, Musalman gentry near ... 105 Mir Jumla conquers Assam ... 64 Mir Mahomed Hadi, his arrival in Bengal ... ... 41 Mubarik Shah (Qutb-ud-din) reinstatesyir^ars ... 83 Mughal emperors encourage Musalmans to settle in the country ...49—51 Mughals, the, described • •• 100 Murshidabad, the, Nawab Nazim family pre-eminent in Bengal r.. 103 , ancient Musalman families of ... 104 Murshid Kuli Khan, resumption of aimas ... 73 INDEX. 129 Page. Musalman, chief families, their traits and characteristics 6& converts, their nomenclature ... ... 101 — , division of land under the ... ... 77* endowments, traces of ... ... 77 immigration to Bengal ... 23,31,37 by sea ... ... 39 ladies take to spinning and sewing ... 114 nobles, descendants of ... ... 75 nobles remain in Bengal after its conquest by the English ... 52, 53, 75 resided on their estates ... ...76, 103 nobles submit to the Emperor Akbar ... 49, 51 population, increase in Bengal ... ... 22 refugees from Central and Western Asia ... 42 • rulers in Bengal for a period of 561 years ... 22 rulers at Delhi ... ... ... 11,22 rule, zemindars under ... ... 79 settlers, effects of climate and soil on ... 88 spiritual instructors at Gaur ... ... loi tenures alienated ... ... ... 75 Musalmans among the Eajputs ... ... ... 93 and Hindus, their natural features con- trasted ... ... 61, 89, 91 deported to Bengal by Akbar ... ... 36 estranged from State employment ... 117 , handicrafts and trade derogatory to the better class of ... ... 108,109 have not changed with the times ... m have not conformed to the change in ad- ministration ... ... ... 116 hold aloof from English education ... 116 in Assam ... ... ... 64 in Bengal, evidence of language ... 89 , their ancestors ... ... 89 in Bengal Proper ... ... ... 1,3 in Bengal, cause of increase ... ... 120 I 130 INDEX. Page . Musalmans in India ... ... ... 1 , low class, superior to low class Hindus ... 113 , lower orders, increased prosperity of ... 118 , occupation of ... ... 107,113 persecution by the Mughals ... ... 43 , reasons for their poverty ... 109 — 111 regard social position and family dignity... 61 shopkeepers mostly descended from the Hindus superior physique ... traits and characteristics , the nasal test - — , their ancient families , difficulty of tracing gentry, four classes of -, their present condition - want of capital -, well-wishers of the British Government Muzaffar Shah rules in Bengal 109 120 88 97 98 98 99 115 111 118 18 Nadia captured by Bakhtyar Khilji , Musalman gentry near ... Nadir Shah invades India, inhabitants of Delhi Bengal Nasir-ud-din rules in Bengal Nazims of Bengal, list of Nusrat Shah rules in Bengal marries Ibrahim Lodi’s daughter 8 105 flee to .37 ... 17,24 ... 11—22 19 32 Oudh Akhhar, the, quoted on Mr. Eisley’s work Oudh, Eoyal House of Ozeefa granted by Akbar 91 39 67 Palmer, Prof. E. H., quoted Perganahs bear Musalman names Parliamentary Fifth Eeport quoted 62 76 77‘ INDEX. 131 Page. Parwana required to establish title ... ... 74 Pathans, the, described ... ... ... 101 Permanent settlement, zemindars under the ... 79, 81 Polygamy, a cause of increase among Musalmans ... 120 Pundwah, flourishing condition of ... ... 16 Eajah Kanis or Kans, his treatment of his Musalman subjects ... ... ... 16, 47 Rajputs, occupation of ... ... ... 108 Rajshahi District, Musalman gentry in ... ... 105 Itauzat-us-Safa cgiot&i ... ... ... 119* Regulation XIX of 1793 quoted ... ... 74 XXXVII of 1793 quoted ... ... 74 II of 1819 quoted ... ... ... 74 Revenue, rate of, per higha ... ... ... 69 Risley, Mr. H. H., his ethnographical researches ...89 — 96 , his anthropometric measurements ... 90, 96 Robertson, Dr., quoted ... ... ... 9 Rohillas, land system under ... ... ... 76* Sadar, Power of, to divide the Sa^urghul ... ... 68 Sadr-us-Sadtlr, see Cadr ... ... ... 82 Samanta, Komod Behari, his assistance to Mr. Risley ... 95 Sanad required to establish title ... ... 74 Sayurghal lands specified by Abul Fazl ... ... 87 , rules relating to ... ... ... 67, 68 , what they consist of ... ... 69 Settlement, Permanent, and the zemindars ... 79 Shams-ud-din Bhangra rules in Bengal ... ... 15 Shams-ud-din, son of Sultan-us-Salatin, rules in Bengal 16 Shere Shah dethrones Sultan Mahmood ... ... 20 Shuja Khan, see Shuja-ud-din. Shuja-ud-din assumes the sovereignty of Bengal ... 11, 21 , his liberal treatment of Musalman immi- .... 37, 38 grants 132 INDEX. Page. Sikandar Shah Sur, his defeat and flight to Bengal ... 34 Sikh, ceremony necessary on becoming a ... ... 92 converts from Hinduism ... ... ... 93 Soohah Behar, History of, quoted ... ... 9 Stewart’s History of Bengal quoted ... 31, 47, 51 Sultan Shahzada (Barbak) rules in Bengal ... ... 18 Sultan Fakhr-uddiu rules in Bengal ... ... 10 Syyad Sharif, see Ala-iuldin. 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THE TRIBES ON MY FRONTIER. An Indian Naturalist’s Foe- KiGN Policy. By Eha. With 50 Illustrations by F. C. Macrab. Imp. 16mo. Uniform with “ Lays of Itid.” Fourth Edition. Rs. 7. “We have only to thank our Anglo-Indian naturalist for the delightful book which he has sent home to his countrymen in Britain. May he live to give us another such.” — Chambers' Journal, “A most charming series of sprightly and entertaining essays on what may be termed the fauna of the Indian Bungalow We have no doubt that this amusing book will find its way into every Anglo-Indian’s library.” — Allen's Indian Mail. “ This is a delightful book, irresistibly funny in description and illustration, but full of genuine science too There is not a dull or unin- structive page in the whole book.” — Knowledge. INDIA IN 1983. A Reprint of this celebrated Prophesy of Nativic Rule is India. Fcap. 8vo. lie. 1. “ Instructive as well as amusing.” — Indian Daily News. “There is not a dull page in the hundred and thirty-seven pages of which it consists.” — Times of India, LALU, THE CHILD-WIDOW. A Poem in seven parts ; Proem — The Zemindar — The Farm — The Betrothal — The Lovers — Widowhood — The , Pyre— Rest. By Lt.-Col. W. L. Grkienstrbut. Cr. 8vo. Rs, 2. THACKER, SPINK AND CO., CALCUTTA. 6 Thacker, Spink a7id Co.’s Publications. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SPIN. By May Edwood, Author of “Elsie Ellerton,” “Stray Straws,” tfec. Re. 1-8. “Undeniably a clever and not unaffecting study of the natural history of flirtation." — Saturday Review. “ In Anglo-Indian society slang a ‘ Spin ’ appears to be a young lady' who visits India in order to obtain matrimony by means of a vivacious, not to say bold, demeanour. The author of this hook describes such a person, and her heartless conduct in the pursuit of her object, which, however, does not appear to have been successful.” — Times Weekly. 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INDIAN ENGLISH AND INDIAN CHARACTER. By Ellis Under- wood. Fcap. 8vo. As. 12. LAYS OF IND. By Aliph Cheem. Comic, Satirical, and Descriptive Poems illustrative of Anglo-Indian Life. Ninth Edition. Enlarged. With 70 Illustrations. Cloth, elegant, gilt edges. Ks. 7-8. “There is no mistaking the humpur, and at times, indeed, the fun is both ‘fast and furious.’ One can readily imagine the merriment created round the camp fire by the recitation of ‘ The Two Thumpers,’ which is irresistibly droll.” — Liverpool Mercury. “ The verses are characterised by high animal spirits, great cleverness, and most excellent fooling.” — Worrld. THE CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER. A Novel. By A. C. Pooshkin. Literally translated from the Russian by Stuart H. Godfrey, Captain, Bo. S. C. Crown 8vo. 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Ue. 1. “The reader is earnestly advised to procure the life of this gentleman, written by his nephew, and read it.” — The Tribes on my Frontier. DEPARTMENTAL DITTIES AND OTHER VERSES. By Rudyard Kipli.nq. Eighth Edition. With additional Poems. Cloth. Ks. 3, “This tiny volume will not be undeserving of a place on the bookshelf that holds ‘ Twenty-one Days in India,’ Its contents, itideed. are not unlike the sort of verse we might have expected from poor ‘ Ali Baba’ if he had been spared to give it us. Mr. Kipling resembles him in lightness of touch, quaint- ness of faticy, and unexpected humour,” — Pioneer. "The verses are all written in alight style, which is very attractive, and no one with the slightest appreciation of humour will fail to indulge in many a hearty lanph before turning over the last page.” — Times of India. “Mr. Kipling's rhymes are rhymes to sotne purpose. 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Us. 8. “ He writes in a liberal and comprehensive spirit.” — Saturday Review. “ volume which is at once a voluminous disquisition upon the Hindu religion, and a most interesting narrative of Hindu life, the habits and cus- toms of the Hindu community and a national Hindu historiette, written with all the nerve of the accomplished litterateur, added to the picturesque word- painting and life-like delineations of a veteran novelist.” — Lwknow Express, “ A solid addition to our literature.” — Westminster Review, “ A valuable contribution to knowledge.” — Scotsman, THE DHAMMAPADA ; or, Scriptural Texts. A Book of Buddhist Precepts and M»xiins. Translated from the Pali on the Basis of Burmese Manuscripts. By James Guay. Second Edition. 8vo, boards. Us. ‘2. THE ETHICS OF ISLAM. A Lecture by the Hon’ble Ameer Ali, C.I.E., author of “ The Spirit of Islam,” “ The Personal Law of the Mahommedans,” etc. Crown 8vo. Cloth gilt. Rs. "2-8. 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R-. 32. “It would be difficult to give a more graphic picture of an Indian Frontier Expedition,” — The Times. “Brings home to us the Chins themselves, their ways and homes, the nature of the country marched through, method of campaign, and dady social habits and experiences of the campaigners. The letterpress, bright ami simple, is worthy of the photographs.” — Broad Arrow. “The pictures are so good and spirited and so well reproduced that we are apt to forget that the letterpress is also well worth studying.” — Daily Tele- graph. THE RACES OF AFGHANISTAN. Being a Brief Account of the principal Nations inhabiting that country. By Surg.-Maj. H. W. Bkllkw, C.S.I., late on Special Political Duty at Kabul. 8vo. cloth. Bs. 2. KURRACHEE : its Past, Present, and Future. By Alexander F. Bailliu, F.K.G.S., author of “ A Paraguayan Trea.sure,” Ac. With 51aps, Plans, and Photographs, showing the most recent improvements. Super-royal 8vo, cloth. Ks. 15, THE TRIAL OF MAHARAJA NANDA KUMAR. A Narrative of a Judicial Muhdku. By H. BitvKhiDGH, b.c.s. Demy »vo. Hs. 5. “Mr. Beveridge has given a great amount of thought, labour, and research to the marshalling of his fads, and he has done his utmost to put the exceed- ingly complicated and contradicting evidence in a clear and intelligible form.” — Borne Sews. THE EMPEROR AKBAR. A Contribution towards the History OF India in the 16th Century. By Fkkdekick Augustus, Count of Noer, Translated from the German by Annette S. Bkvekidge. 2 vols. 8vo. cloth, gilt. Rs. 5. THACKER, SPINK AND CO., CALCUTTA. (Japt. tJayes Works on Horses. 11 ECHOES FROM OLD CALCUTTA. Being chiefly Rejuniscences of the davs of Warren Hastint;s, Fraiici.s, and IiiiDey. By H. 1C. Bus- TKKD. Second Edition, Enlarged and Illustrated. Post 8v<>. Rs. 6. “The book will be read by all interested in India .” — Army cj’ Nary Magazine. “ Dr. Busteed’s valuable and entertaining ‘ Echoes from Old Calcutta’ has arrived at a second edition, revised, enlarired and illustrated with portraits and other plates rare or qutiint. It is a pleasure to reiterate the warm com- mendation of this instructive and lively volume which its appearance called forth some v’ears since .” — Saturday Review. “A series of illustrations which are highly entertaininer and instructive of the life and manners of Anglo-Indian society a hundred years apo . . . The book from first to last has not a dull page in it, and it is a work of the kind of which the value will increase with years.” — Englishman. CAPT. HAYES’ WORKS ON HORSES. ON HORSE BREAKING. By Captain M. H. Hayes. Numerous Illus- trations by .1. H. Oswai.d-Bkown. Square. Rs. 16. (1) Theory of Horse Breaking. (2) Principles of Mounting. (3) Horse Control. (4) Rendering Docile. (5) Giving Good Mouths. (G) Teaching to Jump. (7) Mount for the First Time. (8) Breaking for Ladies’ Riding. (9) Breaking to Harness. (10) Faults of Mouth. (II) Nervousness and Im- patience. (12) Jibbing. (13) Jumping Faults. (14) Faults in Harness. (15) Aggressiveness. (16) lliding and Driving Newly-Broken Horse. (17) Stable Vices. “One great merit of the book is its simplicity.” — Indian Daily News. “ A work which is entitled to high praise at being far and away the best reasoned-out one on breaking under a new system we have seen.” — Meld. “Clearly written.” — Saturday Review. “The best and most instructive book of its class that has appeared for many years.” — Times of India. RIDING: ON THE FLAT AND ACROSS COUNTRY. A Guide to PitACTiCAL Hokskmanship. By Captain M. H. Hayks. With 70 Illus- trations by Stukokss and J. H. Oswald-Bkown. Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged. Rs. 7-8. The whole text has been so revised or re-written as to make the work the most perfect in existence, essential to all who wish to attain the art of riding correctly. “One ot the most valuable additions to modern literature on the subject.” — Civil and Military Gazette. “ k very instructive and readable book.” — Sport. “This useful and eminently practical book.” — Freeman's Journal, THE POINTS OF THE HORSE. A Familiar Treatise on Equine Conformation. Describing the points in which the perfection of each class of horses consists. By Captain H. M. Hayks. Illustrated. [New Edition in the Press, THACKER, SPINK AND CO., CALCUTTA. 12 Thacker, Spink and Co.’s Pnhlications. INDIAN RACING REMINISCENCES. Being Entertaining Narra- TiVKS, and Anecdotes of Men, Horses, and Sport. By Captain M. H. Hayks. Illustrated with 42 Portraits and Engravings. Imp. 16mo. Ks. 6. “Captain Hayes has done wisely in publishing tliese lively sketches of life in India. The book is full of racy anecdote.” — Bell's Life. “ All sportsmen who can appreciate a book on racing, written in a chatty style and full of anecdote, will like Captain Haj’es’ latest work.” — Field. ” Many a racing anecdote and many a curious character our readers will find in the book, which is very well got up, and embellished with many portraits.” — Bailey's Magazine, VETERINARY NpTES FOR HORSE-OWNERS. A Popular Guide to Horse Medicine and Surgery. By Captain M. H. Hayks. Fifth Edi- tion, Enlarged and Revised to the latest Science of the Day. With many New Illustrations by J. H. Oswald-Bkown. Crown Svo, buckram. \_lnthe Press. The chief new matter in this Edition is — Articles on Contracted Heels, Donkey’s Foot Disease. Forging or Clicking, Rheumatic Joint Disease, Abscess, Di.slocation of the Shoulder Joint, Inflammation of the Moutli and Tongue, Flatulent Distention of the Stomach. Twist of the Intestines, Relapsing Fever, Cane Horse Sickne.ss, Horse Syphilis, Rabies, Megrims, Staggers, Epilepsy, Sunstroke, Poisoning, Castration by the Ecraseur, and Mechanism of the Foot (in Chapter or Shoeing). “Of the many popular veterinary books which have come under our notice, this is certainly one of the most scientific and reliable The de- scription of symptoms and the directions for the application of remedies are given in perfectly plain terms, which the tj'ro will find no difficulty in com- prehending.” — Field. “ Simplicity is one of the most commendable features in the book.” — Illus- trated Sporting and Dramatic News. “Captain Hayes, in the new edition of ‘ Veterinary Notes,’ has added con- siderably to its value, and rendered the book more useful to those non-profes- sional people who may be inclined or compelled to treat their own horses when sick or injured.” — Veterinary Journal. “We do not think that horse-owners in general are likely to find a more reliable and useful book for guidance in an emergency.” — Field, TRAINING AND HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. By Captain M, H. Hayks, author of “ Veterinary Notes for Horse-Owners,” “ Riding,” &c. Fifth Edition. Crown Svo. Rs. 6. “No better guide could be placed in the hands of either amateur horseman or veterinary surgeon.” — Veterinary Journal. “ A useful guide in regard to horses anywhere. ... Concise, practical, and portable.” — Saturday Review. THACKBIl, SPINK AND CO., CALCUTTA. 13 Sport and Veterinary Works. SOUNDNESS AND AGE OF HORSES. A Vetekinary and Legad Guidk to the Examination of Horses for Soundness. Dy Captain M. H. Hayes, m.ic.c.v.s. With 100 Illustrations. Crown 8vo, Rs. 6. “ Captain Hayes is entitled to much credit for the explicit and sensible manner in which he has discussed the many questions — some of them ex- tremelv vexed ones — which pertain to soundness and unsoundness in horses.” — Veterinary Journal. “All who have horses to buy, sell, or keep will find plenty to interest them in this manual, which is full of illustrations, and still fuller of hints and wrinkles.” — Referee, “Captain Hay'es’ work is evidently the result of much careful research, and the horseman, as well as the veterinarian, will find in it much that is interest- insr and instructive.” — Field. THE HORSE-WOMAN. A Practical Guide to Side-Saddle Riding. By Mrs. Hayes, and Edited by Captain M. H. Hayes. Illustrated by 48 Drawings by J. Osavald-Bkovvn and 4 Photographs. Uniform with “ Biding: on the Flat and Across Country.” Imp. l6mo. Bs. 7-8. “ This is the first occasion on winch a practical horseman and a practical horsewoman have collaborated in bringing out a book on riding for ladies. The result is in every way satisfactory.” — Field, “ A large amount of sound practical instruction, very judiciously and plea- santly imparted,” — Times. “We have seldom come across a brighter book than ‘The Horsewoman.’” — Athenceum. “Eminently sensible and practical .” — Daily Chronicle. SPORT AND VETERINARY WORKS. HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA. Notes on their Foresrs and Wild Tribes, Natural History, and Sports. By Capt. .1 Fousyth, b.s.c. New Edition. With Map and Tinted Illustrations. Bs. 7-8. CALCUTTA TURF CLUB RULES OF RACING, together with the Buies relating to Lotteries, Betting, Defaulters, and the Rules of the Calcutta Turf Club. Revised May 1892. Authorized Edition. Rs. 2. THE RACING CALENDAR, VoL. VII, from May 1894 to April 1895, Backs Past. Published by the Calcutta Turf Club. Contents: — Buies of Racing, Lotteries, C. T. C., etc.. Registered Colouis; Licensed Train- ers and Jockeys; Assumed Names: List of Horses Aged, Classed and Measured by C. T. C. and W. I. T. C. ; Races Bun under C. T. C. Rules; Performances of Horses ; Appendix and Index. Rs. 4, THE RACING CALENDAR FROM 1st August 1888 to .30th April 1889, Racks Past. 12nio. cloth. Vol. I, Bs. 4. Vol. II, to April 1890, Bs. 4. Vol. Ill, to April 1891, Rs. 4. Vol. IV, to April 189‘2, Bs. 4. Vol. V, to April 1893, Rs. 4. Vol. VI, to April 1891, Rs. 4. Vol, VII, to April 1895, Rs. 4. THACKER, SPINK AND CO., CALCUTTA. 16 Thacker, Spink and Co.’s Publications. MEDICINE, HYGIENE, etc. AIDS TO PRACTICAL HYGIENE. By J. C. Battek.sby, k.a., m.e. B.CH., Univ, Dublin. Fcap. bvo, cloth. Rs. 2. “A valuable handbook to the layman interested in sanitation.” — Morning Post. "To the busy practitioner or the medical student it will serve the purposes of a correct and intelligent tjuide.” — Medical Record. HINTS FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND MEDICAL TREATMENT OF Cnii.ni'.KN IN India. IJy Edwaisd Bikch, m.d., Late Principal. Medical College, Calcutta. Third ICdition, Revised. Being the Ninth Edition of Goodeve’s Hints for the Management of Children in India.” Crown 8vo, cloth. Rs. 7. The Medical Times and Gazette, in an article unon this work and Moore’s “ Family Medicine for India,” says: — "The two works before us are in them- selves probably about the best examples of medical works written for non- professional readers. The style of each is simple, and as free as possible irom technical expressions. 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INDIAN RACING REMINISCENCES. Being Entertaining Narrative and Anecdotes of Men, Horses, and Sport. By Captain M. H. Hayes. Illu.strated with Portraits and Engravings. Bs. G. BEHIND THE BUNGALOW. By Eha, author of “ Tribes on my Frontier.” With 42 Illustrations by the Illustrator of ‘‘The Tribes on JIv Frontier.” Fourth Edition. VVitb Additional Illustrations. Imp. l€mo Be. 5, THACKER, SPINK AND CO., CALCUTTA. INDEX. Page. Abbott. Squibs from the “ Pig." . . 2 iiemoir of Lcu’d William Peresford .. 14 Adams. Principal Events In Indian and British History 32 Agnew and Hendei'son. Cnniinal Procedure . . . . . . 3D Ahmed. N. -W. P. Land Revenue . . 33 Akbar. By Mrs. Beveridge . . . . 10 Alexander. Indian Case Law on Torts 3(5 Aliph Cheem. Lays of Ind . . . . (5 Ali, Cheragh. Exposition of the popular " .Jihad ” .. .. .. 9 Ali, Ameer. Ethics of Islam . . S Law of Evidence .. .. 40 Jlohamedan Law, 2 vols. .. 41 Student's Handbook . . 41 Amateur Gardener in the Hills . . 19 Anderson’s Indian Letter Writer 81, 32 Baillie. Kurrachee 10 Banerjee. Devauagari Alphabet . . 33 Lilavati . . . . . . 2(3 Barker. Tea Planter’s Life . . . . 24 Barlow. Indian Melodies . . . . 4 Barrow. Se^y Officer's JIanual . . 27 Battersby. Practical Hygiene . . 1(5 Boddome. Handbook to Ferns and Suppt. 23 Bellew. Races of Afghanistan . . 10 Bell. Student’s Handbook to Hamil- ton and Mill 32 Laws of Wealth .. .. 32 Government of India .. 33 in Bengali .. 33 Bengal Code Regulations .. .. 35 Beresford, Lord William .. .. 14 Bernier. Moghul Empire . . . . 47 Beveridge. Nand Kumar .. .. 10 Beverley. Laud Acquisition Act . . 34 Bhartrihari. Tawney . . . . 30 Bhuttacharjee. Hindu Law 41 Bignold. Leviora . . . . 4 Birch. Management of ChUdren 16, 20 Bonavia. The Date Palm . . . . 23 Bose. Hindus as they are . . . . 8 Boutflower. Elementary Staties and Dynamics 32 Page. Broughton. Civil Procedure . . 37 Letters from a Mahratta Camp 47 Busteed. Echoes of Old Calcutta .. 11 Bush. Quartermaster’s Almanac .. 2(> C— Major. Horse Notes .. .. 14 ■ ■ Dog Notes , . . . 15 Calcutta Turf Club. Rtiles .. .. 13 — Racing Calendar .. 13,14 ——Racing Calendar Voliunes .. 13 Calcutta University Calendar . . 32 Carnegy. Kachari Technicalities . . 42 Cashmir en famille . . . . 20 Caspersz. Law of Estoppel . . 3'i Chalmers. NegotiabD Instruments 3(5 Chan Toon. Buddhist Law . . 42 Clarke. Compositse Indica3 . . . . 23 Divan*i-Hafiz . . . . 2S Awarifu-i-Maarif . . . . 20 Coldstream. Grasses of the Southern Punjab . . . . 4() Collett. Specific Relief Act . . . . 3o Collier. Local Self-Government . . 3S — Bengal Municipal l^Ianual . . 3S Ci)urt. History of the Sikhs . . 29 Cowell. Hindu Law .. 41 Constitution of the Courts 42 Cunningham. Indian Eras . . . . 0 Currie. Law Examination Manual 42 Cuthell. Indian Idylls .. .. 5 Deakin. Irrigated India . . . . 25 De Bourbel. Routes in Jamoo .. 21 Dey. Indigenous Drugs . , , . 10 Donogh. Stamp Law . . . . 43 Dryden. Aiirengzcbe . . . . 47 Dufferin, Lady. Three Years’ Work 17 National Association .. 17 Duke. Queries at a Mess Table .. 16 ■ Banting in India .. .. 16 Edwards. Notes on MUl’s Hamilton 33 ■ Short History of English Language 33 Edwood. Elsie Ellerton .. .. 3 Stray Straws . . . . 2 Autobiogi*aphy of a Spin . . 6 Eha. Tribes on my Frontier , . 5 ■ ■ Behind the Bungalow ,, 6 I ■ ■ ■ ■ Naturalist on the Prowl ,, 50 INDEX. Page. English Selections for the Calcutta Entrance Course . . . . S2 Ewing. Handbook of Photo- graphy .. .* 1,26 Fauna of British India . . . . 46 Field. Landholding . . . . 84 Introduction to Bengal Reg- ulations 86 Law of Evidence . . . . 40 Fink. Antdysis of Reid’s Enquiry 32 F'ire Insurance in India .. 25 }*'irrninger. Manual of Gardening.. 19 Fletcher. Poppied Sleep . . . . 3 — Here's Rue for You . . . . 7 Forrest. Indian Mutiny .. .. 46 Warren Hcostings .. .. 46 Forsyth. Highlands of Central In- dia .. •• ..13 Revenue Sale Law . . . . 34 Probate and Administration 37 Four-anna Railway Guide .. .. 21 Gall and Robertson’s Readings in Science . • • • . . 47 George. Guide to Book-keeping .. 31 Godfrey. The Captain’s Daughter. . 7 Gogol. The Inspector . . . . 7 Goodeve on Children. By Birch . . 16 Gordon-Forbes. From Simla to Shipki . . . • . . 21 • From the City of Palaces .. 21 Gowan. Kashgaria . . . . 9 Gracey. Rhyming Legends of Ind. 9 Gray. Dhammapada . . . . 8 Gregg. Text-book of Indian Botany .. 24,33 Greenstreet. Lain o Gribble and Hehir. Medical Juris- prudence . . . . 16, 40 Grimley. Revemie Sale Law .. 34 Income-Tax Act .. .. 43 - Sea Customs Law . . . . 43 Hafiz. The Divan .. .. 28 Hall. Principles of Heat . . . . 32 Hamilton. Indian Penal Code . . 38 Handbook of Indian Law . . . . 42 Hardless. Clerk's Manual . . . . 31 Indian Service Manual 31 Government Office ^lanual 31 Hart. Address before Indian Medi- cal Congress .. .. ..16 Hart-Davies. The Inspector .. 6 Hastings. Warren Hastings .. 47 Hawkins. The Arms Act .. .. 18 Hayes and Shaw. Dugs for Hot Climates .. •• .. 15 Hayes. Honse-Breaking ^ .. 11 — ^ Riding 11 Page. Hayes. Points of the Horse 11 — Indian Racing Reminiscences Veterinary Notes .. .. 12 Training 12 -Soundness .. ..13 (Mrs.) The Horse-Woman .. 13 My Leper Friends . . . . 17 Hehir. Rudiments of Sanitation .. 16 Hygiene of Water 17 Henderson. I'estamentary Devise 37 Hendley. Hygiene . . . . 18, 19 Holmwood. Registration Act . . 35 House. N.-W. P. Rent Act .. 35 Hudson. Indian Articles of War .. 28 Hukm Chand. Res Judicata •• 37 Humfrey. Horse Breeding •• ..14 Hume. Criminal Digest . . 39 Hunter. Annals of Rural Bengal . . 46 Hutchinson. 3Iedico-Legal Terms . . 28 Ince. Kashmir Handbook .. .. 20 Rawal Pindi to Srinagar . . 20 India in 1983 5 Indian Idylls 5 Horse Notes .. .. 14 Indian Notes about Dogs . . . . 15 Medical Gazette .. 18,44 Cookery Book .. .. 18 Field Message Book . . . . 28 Inland Emigration Act . . . . 24 Insolvency Act 36 Jackson. Statistics of Hydraulics. . 24 James. A Queer Assortment .. 3 Jolly. Hindu Law .. 41 Jones. Permanent-Way Pocket Book 24 Journal of the Photographic So- ciety .. .. 26,45 Indian Art 46 Kalidasa. Malavikagnimitra , . 29 Keene. Handbook to Agra . . . . 21 Handbook to Delhi . . , . 21 Handbook to Allahabad . . 21 Kelleher. Specific Performance .. 36 Mortgjige in Civil Law . . 36 Possession . . 36 Kelly. Practical Surveying for India 25 Kentish Rag. Regimental Rhymes 4 King and Pope. Gold, Copper and Lead .. ..23 King and Pope. Guide to Royal Bo- tanic Gardens .. ..21 Kiiig-IIanuan. Reconnoitrer's Guide . . . . 26 Kinloch. Large Game Shooting . . 14 Russian Grammar .. 29 Kipling. Barrack Room Ballads .. 4 Departmental Ditties . . 7 Plain Tales from the Hills 4 INDEX. 51 Kiiropatkin. Kash,»aria ! ainb. Talus from Shakespeare Lays of Ind Le Messurier. Game Birds . . Lectures delivered to Transport idasses Lee. On Indigo Manufacture Legislative Acts. Annual Volumes Lethbridge. Golden Book . . Moral Reading Book Littlepage. Rudiments of Music .- Lloyd. Notes on the Garrison Page. dd 6 23 28 23 43 47 33 32 28 Course Loth. English People and their Language . . . • . . 33 Lyon. Medical Jurisprudence 18, 40 MacEwen. Small Cause Court Act Malcolm. Central India Map of Calcvitta Map of the Civil Divisions of India Markby. Lectures on Indian Law Maude. Letters on Tactics . . -Invasion and Defence of England . . . . 27 Mazumdar's Life of K. C. Sen .. 9 McCrindle. Ptolemy . . . . 9 Megastheiies . . • . 9 Erythraean Sea . . . . 9 . - — Ktesias . . . . . . 9 Mem Sahib’s Book of Cakes . . .. 19 Mignon. Stray Straws .. .. 2 >liUer. The Teeth . . . . . . 16 Miller and Hayes. Modern Polo .. 15 Mitra. Transfer of Property . . 36 Hindu Law of Inheritance. . 41 — Cholera in Kashmir . . 17 Mitter. Spoilt Child 2 !Moses. The Baby .. .. ..17 Morison. Advocacy . . . . . . 43 Mookerjee. Onoocool Chunder . . 7 Moore. Guide to Examination of Horses .. .. ..15 Murray-Aynsley. Hills beyond Simla . . . . 21 Nelthropp. Explanation on Duplex Telegraphy 25 Newland. The Image of War . . 10 Newnham-Davis. Midsummer Night’s Dream .. ..7 Noer. Life of Akbar 10 Norman. Calcutta to Liverpool ,. 21 Northam. Guide to Masuri . . .. 21 O’Connell. Ague 17 O’Douoghiie. Riding for Ladies .. 15 O’Kinealy. Civil Procedure . . .. 37 CUioocool Cliunder ^lookerjee . . 7 Oswell. Spoilt Child . . 2 Page. Phillips. Revenue and CoUecto- rate Law 3 Manual of Criminal Law .. 30 Land Tenures of Lower Bengal . . . . . . 34 Our Administration of India 35 ■ Comparative Criminal Juris- prudence . . . . ..39 Photogi'apher’s Pocket Book , . . . 26 Pocket Code Civil Law . « . . 38 Penal Laws .. .. ..39 Pooshkin. The Captain’s Daughter 6 Pogson. Manual of Agriculture . . 23 Pollock on Fraud 36 Polo Rules . . . . 15 Calendar .. ..15 Poole. Studies in Mohammedanism 47 Powell. Ma^ram-^Ia . . . . . 9 Prinsep. Criminal Procedure . . 39 Racing Calendar . . . . . . 45 Ranking. Guide to Hindustani . . 30 Pocket Book of Colloquial Urdu . . . . 20 Hidayat-al-Hukama .. 28 Raoul. Reminiscences of Pig-stick- ing . . . . 14 Regimental Rhymes . . . . 4 Reid. Inquiry into Human Mind.. 33 Chin-Lushai Land . . . . 10 ; ——Culture and Manufacture of Indigo . . . . . . 24 Regulations of the Bengal Code . . 35 Reminiscences of 20 years’ Pig-stick- ing . . . . . . 14 Reynolds. N.-W. P. Rent Act .. 34 Richards. Snake-Poison Literature 17 Riddell. Indian Domestic Economy 19 Rivaz. Limitation Act .. .. 37 Romance of Thakote . . . . 4 Rowe and Webb. Elementary Eng- lish Grammar . . . . . 31 Rowe and W ebb. Hints on the Study of English 31 - Companion Reader . . . . 31 Key to the Companion Reader 32 Roxburgh. Flora ludica . . 23 Russell. Malaria 18 Rum.«:ey. Al-Sirajiyyah .. 41 Rubbee. Origin of the Muhame- dans in Bengal . . . . . . 8 Sandberg. Colloquial Tibetan . . 29 Saraswati. Hindu Law of Endow- ment . . . . . . 41 Second Bombardment and Capture of Fort William .. .. 8 Sftii, Keshub chuiider . . 9 I Guru Pershad. Hinduism . . 9 52 INDEX. Shakespeare. Midsummer Night’s Dream . . 7 Shaw- and Hayes. Dogs for Hot Climates 15 Shaw. How to Choose a Dog . . 15 Shen-ing. Light and Shade . . . . 3 Shinghaw. Phonography in Bengali 31 Sinclair. Projection of Maps 25, 32 Siromani. Hindu Law. 2 vols. . . 41 Sleeman. Rambles and Recollec- tions 47 Small. Urdu Grammai* . . . . 29 Anglo*Urdu Medical Hand- book . . . . . . 29 Sung of Shorunjung . . . . . . 2 Spens. Indian Ready Reckoner . 31 •Stapley. Primer Catechism of Sani- tation 33 Stephen. Principles, Judicial Evi- dence 40 Stemdale. Mammalia of India . . 24 Municipal Work . . 38 — ■ Seonee . . 14 Denizens i»f the Jungles 14 Stow. Quadruples Telegraphy . . 25 Sutherland. Digest, Indian Law Reports . , . . . . 40 Swinhoe. Case-Noted Penal Code . . 40 Talbot. Translations into Persian . . 29 Tawney. Malavikagnunitra. . .. 29 Bhartrihari . . . . 30 English People and their Language 33 Temple-Wright. Flowers and Gardens 20 Thacker. Guide to Calcutta . . 21 Page. Thacker. Guide to Darjeeling .. 21 ‘ — Indian Directory . .* 22 Tea Directory . . . . 22 Map of India . . , . 22 Theosophical Christianity . . . . 9 Thuillier. Manual of Surveying . . 25 Toynbee. Chaukidari Manual . . Tweed. Cow-keeping in India , . 19 — Poultry -keeping in India . . 19 Tweedie. Hindustani, and Key . . 30 Tyacke. Sportsman’s Manual 14, 22 Underwood. Indian English . . b Walker. Angling . . . . . , 1.5 Watson. Railway Cui*ves .. .. Webb. Indian L 5 T.ics .. .. 3 Indian Medical Service . . 17 English Etiquette . . . . 19 Entrance Test Examination Questions 32 Wheeler. Tales from Indian His- tory . . . . 9, 33 W^hish. District Office in N. India 35 Wilkins. Hindu Mjthol^y .. 8 ^lodem Hinduism . . S Williamson. Indian Field Sports . . 4(5 Wilson. Anglo-Mahomedau Law — Introduction . . . . . . 41 Anglo - Mahomedan Law- Digest .. ..41 Wood. Fifty Graduated Papers in Ai’ithmetic, &c. . . . . 33 Woodman. Digest, Indian Law Reports .. 40 Wojdroffe. Law of Evidence .. 40 Young. Carlsbad Treatment .. 18 I t