Riyaz al-salatin 3.1
The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 3.1
- Language
- English
3.1.1
The text as well as the Akbarnamah and the Iqbalnamah-i-Jahangiri state that Bengal was bounded on the south by the sea, on the north by hills (that is, those south of Nepaul, Sikkim, and Bhutan), on the east by hills (that is, those of Chittagong and Arakan), on the west by the Subah of Behar. During the reigns, however, of the Independent Musalman Kings (such as Ilyas Shah, and Alauddin Husain Shah in 1502 and his son and successor Nasrat Shah), the Musalman Kingdom of Bengal was more extensive than its geographical limits, and included northern portions of Orissa or Jajnagar, Kuch Behar, Kamrup or Western Assam with portions of Eastern Assam, and the whole of Upper Behar (a Governor to represent the Bengal Musalman King being posted at Hajipur opposite to Patna), and the eastern portions of South Behar including Sarkars Monghyr and Behar — (See J.A.S. No. 3, 1873, pp. 221-222). The whole of Orissa was conquered, and annexed to the Bengal Musalman Kingdom in the reign of Sulaiman Kararani, the last but one independent Musalman Afghan King in Bengal. When Bakhtiyar Khilji conquered Bengal, he ruled (ostensibly as Viceroy of the Musalman Emperor of Delhi, Kutbuddin Aibak) over portions of Dinajepur, Maldah, Rangpur, Nadiah, Birbhum, and Bardwan comprising what was then called Diyar-i-Lakhnauti, and also he held Behar (Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, p. 156).
3.1.2
This state of things continued during the rule of his two immediate successors, when we find Husamuddin Iwaz (a contemporary of Sultan Shamsuddin Altamsh) extending the frontier eastward to the Brahmaputra and southward to the sea-board, and reigning as an independent king under the title of Sultan Ghiasuddin (Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, p. 163). The Tarikh Firuz Shahi, p. 87 mentions that Emperor Balban in his pursuit of Mughisuddin Tughral, had to go so far eastward as Sunargaon, which would appear to have been within the limits also of Tughral's Bengal Kingdom. Again, in 1350 A.C. when Ibn-i-Batutah was in Chittagong, we find this important seaport was in the hands of King Fakhruddin of Sunargaon. As Mr. Thomas in his learned discussions on old coins of Bengal Musalman Kings has suggested, it would seem that so early as the twelfth century there was free commercial intercourse between the south-eastern sea-board of Bengal and the Arab seaports and one thousand and one hundred and fifty-eight infantry, one hundred and eighty elephants, and four thousand two hundred and six guns, four thousand and four hundred fleet of boats, constituted the standing army. Adjoining to the northern limits of Chittagong, is the tract of country ruled by the Rajah of Tipperah. It is an extensive country. The rulers of that country enjoy the title of Manik, for instance Nya Manik. The nobles have the title of Narain.
3.1.3
The Rajah of that place had one thousand elephants and two laks of infantry in his service. Riding horses are not available. Between the north and the west of Bengal, pointing more towards the north, is the province of Kuch Behar. Its length from east to west, from the beginning of Parganah Bhitarband, which is included in the conquered provinces, to Patagaon, which is the limit of the tract of the Murang, is 55 kos, and its breadth from south to north, that is, from Parganah Najhat, which is included in the conquered country, to Pushakarpur, which adjoins Khontaghat, is fifty kos. This tract of country, in point of the sweetness of its water, and mildness and salubrity of its air, and of Baghdad and Basorah; and it would seem it was this commercial Musalman activity combined with superior martial and moral qualities that paved the way for Musalman domination throughout Bengal. Subsequently in the reign of Ghiasuddin Tughlak Shah, we find the Bengal Musalman Kingdom has grown so extensive and unwieldy, that we find him separating Behar from Bengal, and placing it under an independent Governor, whilst Bengal itself for purposes of convenient administration was divided into three different sections, viz.: (1) Diyar-i-Sunargaon, comprising Eastern Bengal, (2) Diyar-i-Satgaon, comprising Western Bengal, and (3) Diyar-i-Lakhnauti, comprising Northern and Central Bengal.
3.1.4
A Governor was appointed to each of the above three administrative Sections or Divisions, the Governor of Lakhnauti being the Supreme Governor or Viceroy, whilst the two other Governors were placed generally in subordination to him (Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi, p. 451). But this state of things did not last long; for in the reign of Muhammad Shah Tughlak (Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi, p. 480) Bengal again rose as an Independent Musalman Kingdom, and as has been mentioned above, the whole of Upper Behar with eastern portions of Southern Behar was again annexed to the Bengal Kingdom, whilst Orissa also was subsequently added to it. This state of things continued until Akbar came to the throne, when Bengal, with Behar and Orissa, was annexed to the Mughal Empire of Delhi. See Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi, Akbarnamah, Ibn-i-Batutah's Travels and Mr. Thomas's "Initial Coinage of Bengal," J.A.S.B., No. 1, 1867 and No. IV, 1873 pp. 221-222 and 343. the comfort of its inhabitants, is superior to all the eastern tracts of Hindustan. Large oranges thrive here, and other fruits also grow in abundance. The tree of pepper grows there, its root is thin, and its branches creep over ponds. Its ear, like the ear of grape, hangs down from the branches. Its inhabitants belong to two tribes, namely, Makh and Kūj, its Rajah is of the first tribe. They mint gold coins, and the coins are called Naraini. Notable Rajahs have ruled there.
3.1.5
One lak and one thousand infantry are always in the service of the Rajah. And the country of Kamrup which is also called Karuru or Kamtah is subject to those Rajahs. The inhabitants of Kamrup are good-looking, and in magic raise the standard of mastery; and many incredible stories are related regarding them. In respect of the flora of that place, it is said that the scent of the flowers continues as fresh as before, some months after their being plucked, and that with these necklaces are made, and that by cutting trees a sweet liquid is obtained, and that the mango-tree trails like a climbing vine over ponds, and produces mango-fruit; and other similar stories are related.
3.1.6
And the mountain of Bhutan, which is the abode of the Bhutiahs, lies to south of Kuch Behar. Tangan horses and Bhūt and Barī horses and the musk-deer are found in this mountain. In the centre of this tract, a river runs between two rocks, its breadth is small, but it is very deep, and its current is strong. An iron-chain is put across the top of the river, and its ends are affixed to pieces of rocks on the two sides of the river, and a second chain is put over the first chain at a distance, equal to the height of a man. Pedestrians cross the river by placing their feet on the lower chain and seizing with their hand the upper chain. And what is stranger is that horses and all other loads and baggages are ferried across this river along this very chain. The people of this tract are ruddy-complexioned and fat; their hairs fall hanging down their heads and necks. Their dress consists of only one rag, just sufficient to cover the private parts. Men and women of this place dress in the same manner. The pronunciations in their language resemble those of the people of Kuch Behar. It is said that mines of turquoise-stone also exist in this mountain. Between the north and the east of the country of Bengal, bordering on the tract of Kamrup, is the vilayat or province of Asham (Assam). In its middle, the river Brahmaputra flows from east to west.
3.1.7
Its length from west to east — that is, from Gowahati to Sadiah — is about two hundred karoh or kos, and its breadth from north, that is from the rocky fastnesses of the tribes of Mari, Majmi, Daphla and Valandah, to the hills of the Nanga tribe, is approximately seven or eight days' journey. Its southern mountains adjoin lengthwise the mountains of Khasia, Kachar and Kashmir, and breadthwise they adjoin Autan or Atwan, the abode of the Nanga tribe. Its northern mountain skirts lengthwise the lofty ridges of Kamrup, and breadthwise it faces the mountains of the Valandah tribe. The tract in the north of the river Brahmaputra, from Gowahati to the abodes of Mari and Majmi tribes, is called Uttarkul; and the extent of the Dakhinkul is from the country of Naktirani to village Sadiah. The climate of the lands bordering on the Brahmaputra is for foreigners poisonous. For eight months the rainy season prevails, and the four months of winter are not free from rain. And the flowers and fruits of Hindustan and Bengal are available here; and besides these, others are found which are not to be had in Hindustan. Wheat, barley, and pulse are not grown, but the soil is fit for cultivation of all kinds. Salt is scarce and dear, and what is procurable from the defiles of some of the rocks is bitter and brackish. The fighting cocks of that country do not turn back face from enemies;
3.1.8
though the adversary may be strong and big, they fight so much that the brain of the head become disturbed and they die. Large well-formed elephants abound in the wilds and the mountains. And plenty of deer, wild-goats, and wild-cows, and the horned fighting rams are also to be found. In the sands of the river Brahmaputra, gold is found; twelve thousand Assamese are employed on this work. Every year one tola of gold per head is paid into the Rajah's treasury. But the gold is not quite pure, so that one tola of gold sells for eight or nine rupees, and silver and gold coins are minted in the name of the Rajah, and shells are current, but copper pice is not in use. Musk-deer is found in the mountains of Ashara. The bladder of musk is large, and full of large pieces of musk, and is beautiful-looking. The aloes-wood, which grows in the mountains of Kamrup and Sadiah and Lakhugirah, is heavy and full of scent. No tax is levied from its subjects. From every house, out of every three persons, one person has to serve its Rajah, and in serving him, shows no laxity, and if laxity is visible, he is killed. The Rajah of that place dwells in a lofty building, and does not put his foot on the ground, and if he places his foot on the ground, he is deprived of his raj. And the people of this country have a false notion that their progenitors were in heaven, and that at one time fixing a ladder of gold they came down to the earth, and that since then they have dwelt on earth.
3.1.9
Hence the Rajah is called Sargi—and 'Sarg' in the Hindi language means 'heaven.' And the Rajahs of that country are powerful and notable. It is said that when the Rajah of that place dies, his servants, male and female, with some conveniences and necessaries, and carpets and clothes and victuals together with a chiragh full of oil, are placed with him in a sepulchral monument, securely covered over with strong logs of wood.