The Rashīdī History 4.4.5

4.4.5

The annals chiefly refer to tributary missions and appeals for assistance addressed to the Chinese Emperor, but it is precisely such occurrences as these that the Chinese chroniclers record with care and exactness. Their dynastic histories are believed to be not always trustworthy, but they are, at any rate, compilations, more or less methodical, from State documents and are not based merely on tradition, as are most of the Musulman histories. As mere records of events and dates, therefore, the Chinese accounts are likely to be the best guides; and I should be inclined to substitute their data, regarding this period, for those of Mirza Haidar. I have, however, shown both in amending Mr. Erskine's epitome, as will be seen (at p. 46). A full extract from Dr. Bretschneider's translation of the Chinese history is also appended immediately below. The three lists just spoken of, stand as follows:— (A.)—The Rauzat us Safa and the Zafar-Nama. (1.) Khizir Khwaja . . died 1399 (2.) Muhammad Khan . . . . No date (3.) Nakhsh-i-Jahan . . . . „ (4.) Vais Khan . . . . „ (B.)—The Chinese Annals of the Ming dynasty. (1.) Khizir Khwaja . . . . died 1399 (2.) Shama-i-Jahan . . . . „ 1408 (3.) Muhammad Khan . . „ 1416 (4.) Nakhsh-i-Jahan . . . . „ 1418 (5.) Vais Khan . . . . „ 1428