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XVIII.Essay on the Life and Writings of Ferishta

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2009

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Extract

During our last session I did myself the pleasure of presenting to the Society an autobiographical sketch of Nana Farnevis; and of elucidating the character of Madhu Rao the Great, the prince of Poona, from a series of original letters, principally in his own handwriting.

The interest which those papers excited fully proves, that the biography of celebrated men is an object not only deserving your attention, but, I may venture to say, is also one of the most pleasing forms in which information regarding the inhabitants of the East can well be conveyed to the learned of the West. It is this conviction that has induced me to submit to you the following sketch of the life of the great Muhamedan historian of India, commonly known by the name of Ferishta, with some account of his writings; and I feel assured that your attention will be more completely roused, when you know that his work, now lying before me, has lately been translated, and will in a few days, I trust, be open to your inspection, and submitted for your judgment and approval.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1830

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References

page 341 note * The work here alluded to has since been published by Col. Briggs, under the title of an “History of the Rise of the Muhamedan Power in India.”

page 344 note * Chief of the nobles.

page 352 note * In preparing for the press the translation which is shortly to appear, I have availed myself of my friend Colonel Tod's extensive knowledge of the history of the northern Hindoo nations; and it has been equally satisfactory to us both, to find how much the chain of events, related by the Muhamedan historian, derive confirmation from the heroic poems of the Hindoo bards, as well as from monumental pillars and tablets of copper and stone, copies of the inscriptions of which are in the possession of Colonel Tod; and, I am happy to say, are soon likely to meet the public eye, in the interesting and important ‘Annals of Rajpootana,’ in which he is at present engaged.