English
In past times, the fixed revenue of this Subah was fifty-nine kror eighty-four Ink, fifty-nine thousand and three hundred and nineteen dams, which is equal to about one kror forty-nine laic, sixty-one thousand four hundred and eighty-two rupees and fifteen annas in sicca Rupees. Twenty-three thousand three hundred and thirty cavalry, eight lak infantry, 1,170 elephants, 4,200 guns, 4,400 boats. Remembering that the army was not generally paid in coin, but by bestowal of liefs or military jagirs, even ut this distance of .time, it is not difficult to imagine how Bengal wan overrun by colonies of Musaluinu feudal barons.—See Ain-i-Akbari, Vol. II, p. 129 and Vol, I, p. 370. 1 On tiie Frontiers or Mohammaoan Bengal. The text as well as the Akbarnnmah and the Iqbalnainah-i-Jahangiri state that Bengal was bounded on the south by the sea, on the north by hilla (that is, those south of Nepaul, Sikkim, and Bhutan), on the east by hills (that is, those of Chittagong and Arukan), on the west by the Subali of Behar. Dor- mg the reigns, however, of the Independent Musalman Kings (such as Ilyas Shiah, and Alauddin Husain Shih in 1502 and his son and successor Nasrat Shah), the Musalmin Kingdom of Bengal was more extensive than its geogra¬ phical limits, and included northern portions of Orissa or Jnju&gar, Kuoh 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 Hijipur 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 Solaimau Karuraui, the last but oue inde¬ pendent Musalinau Afghan King in Bengal. When Bakhtiyar Khilji conquered Bengal, he ruled (ostensibly as Viceroy of the Musalinau Emperor of Delhi, Kutbuddin Aibak) over portions of Dinajepur, Mildab, Rangpur, Nadiah, Birbhuin, and Ba.dwau comprising what was then called Diyar-i-Lakhnauti, and also he held Behar (Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, p. 150). This state of things continued during the rule of his two immediate successors, when we hud Hnsamuddin lwns (a contemporary of Sultan Rhamsuddin Altamsh) extending the frontier eastward (a <he Brahmaputra and southward to the eea-bourd, and reigning as an independent king under the title of SuRan Ghiusuddin (Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, p. 103). The Tarikh Firm ‘-hah., p. 87 mentions that Emperor Balkan in his pursuit of Miigjjisuddin ughral, had to go so far eastward ns Suuaignon. which would appear to have been within the limits also of Tughral s Bengal Kingdom. Again, in 1350 A C when Ibu-i-Batutah was in Chittagong, we hud this important seaport was in e hands of King Fakhruddm of Sunurgaou. As Mr. Thomas in his learned discussions on old coins of Bengal Musalmin Kings has suggested, it would Boom that so early as the twelfth century there whs free commercial inter course between the south-eastern sea-board of Bengal and the Arab seaport* 10 nnd 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, con¬ stituted the standing army. Adjoining to the northern limits of Chittagong, is the tract of country ruled by the Rajah of Tippcralt. It is an extensive country. The rulers of that country enjoy the title of Manik, for instance NyaManik. The nobles have the title of Narain. 1 The Rajah of that place had one thousand elephants and two laks of infantry in Ids service. Riding horses are not available. Between the north and the wes£ of Bengal, pointing more towards the north, is the province of Kueh Behar. Its length from east to west, from the beginning of Parganab Bhitarband 3 which is included in the conquered provinces, to Patngaon, 2 which is the limit of the tract of the Murang, is 55 kos, aud its breadth from south to north, that is, from Parganah Najhat, which is included in the conquered country, to Pushakarpur, 3 which adjoins Kbontaghat, 2 is fifty kos. This tract of country, in point of the sweetness of its water, and mildness and salubrity of its air, aud of Rn-hdid and Basorah ; and it would se c ra it was this commercial Musalman activity combined with superior martial and moral qaal.t.es tl.at paved the way for Musalmou domination throughout Bengal. Subsequently in .be reign of Ghi.sud.lin Tughlak Shih. "• fi "? gal Mus.ln.iu Kingdom has grown so extern,,ve and nnw.eld), that ™ him separating Debar from Bengal, and placing .t under a. dep Governor. whilst Bengal itself for pnrposes of was divided into threo different sections, n.. : (1) comprising Easter,, Bengal, (2) Diyir-i-Sitgaon. comprising ^stern Beug and (3) Diyar-i-Lakhnanti, comprising Northern and Centra S Governor was appointed to each of tho above threo admm.strat.re Se or Divisions, the Governor of Lakhnauti boing the Supreme Go™™.r o Viceroy whilst the two other Governors were ptaced generally m BUhor dination to him (Tarikh-i-Firnr, Shah., p. del). But ' th “ ( ° T ° tlkh .i.Firuu not last long , for in the roign of Muhammad SJl.h W. a „ d Shahi, p. 4S0) Bengal again rose as an Independent as has been mentioned above, the who!.L lo " he Bengal Kingdom, whilst portion, of Southern Behar was aga.n annexed to the Be ga B colltinuod Orissa al.o was subsequently added to ,U 1 ,t r “5 Orissa, was until Akbar came to the throne, when Eiengal. * ™* r . T , ria ,. i . Finl . annexed to the Mughal Emp.ro of Delb.. S “ ^ Illjtilll Coinage - - 1 The same in Ain-i-Akban, \ . i. 2, p. I 17 - 4y % F or identification of these places see J.A.S., l • 11 the comfort of its inhabitants, is superior lo all (lie 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 Kfij, * its Rajah is of the first tribe. They mint gold coins, and the coins are called Naraini. Notable Rajahs have ruled there. One lak and one thousand infantry are always in the service of the Rajah. And the country .of Kamrup which is also called Kamru* or Kamtah is subject to those Rajahs. The inhabitants of Kamrup are good-looking, and in magic raise the standard of mastery ; aud many incredible stories are related regarding them. In respect of the Hora of that place, it is said that the scentof 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, aud that the mango-tree trails like a climbing vine over ponds, and produces mango-fruit; and other similar slories are related. And the mountain of Bhutan, which is the abode of the Bhut inhs, lies to south of Kuch Behar. Tangan 1 2 * * * * * 8 horses and Bliut and Bari horses and the musk-deer are found iu this mountain. In the 1 In Tnbaqnl-i-Nofiri, p. 156, “ Mech ’’ and “ Koch.” See J.A.S, for 1872, p. 49. Alamgirnamah, p 6S3. Akbarnamah, p. 207. Tuzuk p. 147, and /W-’ shahnamah, p. 64, Vol. II. 2 Kamrup (iu Tabaqat-i-Nasiri, p. 163, Kumrud) included the Western portion of Assam together with the Bengal Districts of Rangpur, Rnngnmti (now in Goalpara District) and Sylhet. It was first conquered by Musulmnns in the roign of llnssamuddin Iwaz alias Sultan Ghiasuddin, an immediate successor of Bnkht.yar Klnlji, iu the early part of the thirteenth century. ( Tabaqat-i - Nafiri, p. 163). At the close of the fifteenth century, its Rajah Nelumbhar was overthrown by Husain Shfih, King of Bengal. In ancient days, Kamrup was noted for its sorcery and the beauty of its women. Rangpur is stated to have been founded by Bakhtiyar Khilji, during his expedition into Tibet — See also J.A.S. for 1872, p. 49; Alanujirnamah, p.p. 678 and 780, makes ib equivalent for Hajo (Koch Hajo) Guuhati and dependencies. 8 ” Tangistan” is the general name for that assemblage of mountains which constitute the territory of Bhutan, “tangs” meaning 'defiles.’ Abnl Fazl also mentions these ‘Tanghan’ horses. He states; “In the lower parts of Bengal near to Kuch, a species of horse is produced called Tanghan.” The tangan pony is usually 13 hands high aud short bodied, deep iu the cheat, and very active. 12 centre of this tract, a river runs between two rocks, its breadth is small, bat 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 aud bag¬ gages are ferried across this river along this very chain. The people of this tract are ruddy-coraplexioned 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 pronuncia¬ tions in their language resemble those of the people of Kuch Behar. It is said that mines of turquoise-stone also exist iu this mountain. Between the north and the east of the country of Bengal, bordering on the tract of Kararup, is the vilayat or province of A sham (Assam). In its middle, the river Brahmaputra flows from east to west.