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As soon as the child was born, he was laid on the throne, and the commencement of his reign dated from that instant. This prince nominally ruled Bengal for eighty years, and was distinguished for his clemency, generosity, and justice.

In the 599th year of the Hejira, the Mohammedans having conquered the province of Behar, and extended their ravages to the borders of Bengal, the Brahmans and astrologers waited on the Rajah, and represented that their ancient books contained a prophecy that the kingdom of Bengal should be subdued by the Toorks; that they were convinced the appointed time was now arrived; and advised him to remove his wealth, family and seat of government (then at Nuddeah), to a more secure and distant part of the country, where they might be safe from any sudden incursion of their

enemies.

The Rajah, on hearing this representation, asked the Brahmans if their books gave any description of the person who was to be the conqueror of his dominions. They replied in the affirmative, and that the description exactly corresponded with the person of the Mohammedan géneral then in Behar.

The Rajah, being far advanced in years, and partial to his capital, would not listen to their advice, and took no measures to avoid the danger. But the nobles and principal inhabitants sent away their property and families, either to the province of Jagernaut, situated on the sea side, or to the countries on the north-east bank of the Ganges.

In the year 600, Mohammed Bukhtyar Khulijy, having acquired sufficient information of the unguarded state of Bengal, secretly assembled his troops; and marching from Behar, proceeded with such expedition towards Nuddeah, that his approach was not even suspected.

On his arrival in the vicinity of the city, he concealed his troops in a wood, and, accompanied by only seventeen horsemen, entered the city. On passing the guards, he informed them that he was an envoy, going to pay his respects to their master.

and the importance of the birth of a son. In proof of the first, see Assatic Researches, vol IV. chap. 22. and of the latter, see Note 6, to Wilkins's Translation of the Bhagvat Geeta.

3

He was thus permitted to approach the palace; and having passed the gates, be and his party drew their swords, and commenced a slaughter of the royal attendants.

The Rajah, Luchmunyah, who was then seated at dinner, alarmed by the cries of his people, made his escape from the palace by a private door, and, getting on board a small boat, rowed with the utmost expedition down the river.

The remainder of the Mohammedan troops now advanced, and, having slaughtered a number of the Hindoos, took possession of the city and palace. Soon as this intelligence was conveyed to the Rajah, he became overwhelmed with affiction; and resolving to dedicate the remainder of his life to religion, he continued his journey to Jagernaut, and had the consolation of dying soon after in the vicinity of the sacred temple.

After the flight of the Rajah, Bukhtyar gave up the city to be plundered by his troops, reserving for himself only the elephants and public stores. He then proceeded without opposition to Lucknowty, and established the ancient city of Gour* as the capital of his dominions.

*The following extract from Major Rennell's Memoir of a Map of Hindoostan, gives the best modern account of the city of Gour that is to be found in print :

"Gour, called also Lucknouti, the ancient capital of Bengal, and supposed to be the Gangia regia of Ptolemy, stood on the left bank of the Ganges, about twenty-five miles below Rajemal. It was the capital of Bengal 730 years before, Christ, and was repaired and beautified by Homayoon, who gave it the name of Jennuteabad ; which name a part of the circar, in which it was. situated, still bears. According to Ferishta's account, the unwholesomeness of its air occasioned it to be deserted soon after; and the seat of government removed to Tanda, or Taarah, a few, miles up the river.

"No part of the site of ancient Gour is nearer' to the present bank of the Ganges than four miles and a half; and some parts of it, which were originally washed by that river, are now twelve miles from it. However, a small stream that' communicates with the Ganges, now runs by its' west side, and is navigable during the rainy seaOn the east side, and in some places within two miles, it has the Mahanada river; which is always navigable, and communicates with the Ganges.

son.

"Taking the extent of the ruins of Gour at the most reasonable calculation, it is not less than fifteen miles in length (extending along the left bank of the Ganges), and from two to three in breadth. Several villages stand on part of its scite: the remainder is either covered with thick forests, the habitations of tigers and other beasts of prey; or become arable land, whose soil is chiefly composed of brick-dust. The principal ruins are,

As a necessary part of this ceremony, he destroyed a number of Hindoo temples, and with their materials erected mosques, colleges, and caravanseries, on their ruins.†

Although elated by success, and absolute master of an extensive dominion, he

did not assume to himself independence, but continued to stamp the coin with the name of the sultan of Ghor; and sent a great portion of the elephants and treasure to Cuttub Addeen, the viceroy at Dehly.

The Mohammedan conquest of Bengal was effected in the year of Christ 1203. From that period till the year 1340, it was governed as a province of the MohammedanIndian empire, of which the capital was Delhi. In 1340, Faker ad Deen, having assassinated his master, revolted, and erected an independent monarchy in Bengal. In 1533, Mahmood Shah, reigning sovereign of Bengal, was expelled by Shere Shah, the Afghan, and Bengal became again a dependent of the throne of Delhi.

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The Afghan monarchs of Delhi possessed Bengal till 1576, when the generals of the Emperor Acbar conquered it, and it was constituted a Subah or viceroyalty of the Moghul dominions.

In 1634, under the viceroyalty a mosque lined with black marble, elaborately wrought; and two gates of the citadel, which are strikingly grand and lofty. These fabricks, and some few others, appear to owe their duration to the nature of their materials, which are less marketable, and more difficult to separate, than those of the ordinary brick buildings; which have been, and continue to be, an article of merchandize; and are transported to Moorshedabad, Mauldah, and other places, for the purpose of building. These bricks are of the most solid texture of any I ever saw; and have preserved the sharpness of their edges, and smoothness of their surface, through a series of ages. The situation of Gour was highly convenient for the capital of Bengal and Behar, as united under one government: being nearly centrical with respect to the populous parts of those provinces; and pear the junction of the principal rivers that compose that extraordinary inland navigation, for which those provinces are famed; and, moreover, secured by the Ganges and other rivers, on the only quarter from which Bengal has any cause for apprehension."

+ In consequence of this conduct, which was imitated by his successors, many Hindoo figures and inscriptions are to be found in the ruins of these Mosques.

of Azim Khan, and by virtue of a firman of the Emperor Shah Jehan, the English first obtained permistion to trade with Bengal, but were restricted to the port of Pipley (Pipali) in the province of Orissa, where they established a factory.

It is not our intention to follow the course of our valuable author through the continued progress of his work. Having brought before our readers the commencement of the Mohammedan government of Bengal, we hasten to close our rapid outline, by conducting him

to the date of the ascendance of Great Britain. In this rapid stride, nevertheless, we are arrested by the respectable and amiable character of the Nuwab Aly Verdy Khan the last, but one of the efficient Mohammedan sovereigns of Bengal; and, among the numerous personal anecdotes which enliven Mr. S's history, we shall make a part of those which relate to that prince the subject of our final ex

tract:

Aly Verdy Khan from his early youth was not addicted to idle pleasures, as wine or opiates*, music, or the company.

of courtezans. He was regular in his devotions, and assiduously abstained from all things forbidden by the divine law. He generally rose two hours before day, and after ablution and prayer, drank coffee with his select companions. At daybreak he gave public audience ; when the commanders of his army, the civil officers, and persons of all ranks who had any applications to make, were admited without reserve, to set forth their business, and receive satisfaction from their bounty. At the expiration of two hours he retired to a private apartment, where These such only as were invited came.

were generally his nephews, Nuazish Mohammed and Sayid Ahmed, his grandson Seraje ad Dowlah, and particular friends. Pieces of poetry were now recited, or history or anecdotes read to him; and sometimes he even amused himself with giving directions to his cooks, who prepared victuals before him according to his palate. The officers of different de† Commonly used in India to intoxicate,

partments, if necessary, also attended, for orders. He then sat down to eat with his friends, and many shared the bounty of his table. When the meal was over the company retired to repose. At this time, a story-teller always attended, to relate some amusing narrative. He generally rose about an hour after midday, performed his devotions, and read in the Koran till near four. After saying the prescribed prayers, and drinking a draught of water cooled with ice or saltpetre, he received several learned men, in whose company he daily spent an hour; hearing them discuss points of divinity and law, for his information. When they retired, the officers of the revenue, with Juggut Seat his banker, were admitted, and gave him the intelligence received from Debly and every province of the empire, also of each district of his own government; after which he issued his orders to them, as the nature of the business required. An hour passed in this manner, and sometimes his near relations were allowed to be present. By this time night set in, lights were brought, and with them certain jesters and buffoons, who entertained him with their repartees on each other for a short time. He then retired to prayers; after which he sat in private with his own Begum, to receive the visits of near relations, till nine o'clock. The women then departed; and men were admitted who had business with him, till he retired to sleep, generally early, and without eating. In this manner he passed his time having stated hours for every employment. He was unequalled in his benevolence to his relations, friends, and former acquaintances in his lower fortunes, particularly to those who had shewn him the smallest

kindness when he was distressed at Dehly in his youth, sending for them or

their children to his court, and conferring favours upon them beyond their expectation. The people at large, during his life, experienced such care and satisfaction from his gentle administration, as could not be exceeded by the indulgence

the French general, Bussy, after the death
of Nasir Jung, wrote to him in pompous
terms of his victory, and recommended
the factory of Chandernagore to his pro-
tection, he reflected upon the similarity
of disposition between his intended suc-
cessor, Seraje ad Dowlali, whose enmity
to the English he was apprised of, and
the unfortunate Soubalidas of the Dek-
kan; at the same time saying, "He
feared that after his death the Europeans
would become masters of many parts of
Hindoostan." Mustapha Khan, his prin-
cipal general, had endeavoured to prevail
upon him to expel the English from
Calcutta, and seize their wealth; but
receiving no answer to his advice, urged
it again, through the Nuwab's nephews,
Nuazish Mohammed and Sayid Ahmed.
Aly Verdy Khan returned no answer: but
shortly after said, in private to the latter,
"My child, Mustapha Khan is a soldier,
and wishes us to be constantly in need of
his service; but how came you to join in
his request? What have the English
done against me, that I should use them
ill? It is now difficult to extinguish fire
on land
but should the sea be in flames
who can put them out* ? Never listen
to such advice as his, for the result
will probably be fatal."

of a parent; while at the same time the lowest of his officers grew rich in his service. He was intelligent in all affairs; and encouraged the deserving of every profession. Affable in manners, wise in state affairs, courageous as a general, he possessed also every noble quality. When

;

In

The advice of Aly was not followed by his grandson and successor, Seraje ad Dowlah. This prince, in 1756, captured Calcutta, an event which was attended with the celebrated tragedy of the Black Hole. 1757 Calcutta was retaken by Admiral Watson, and Colonel Clive; and from this era may be dated the commencement of the British government in Bengal, although the dewany was not obtained till 1765. Native Nuwabs of Bengal have continued, and still continue, to succeed each other, but without the possession of real sovereignty. Their residence is at Moorshedabad. Zyn Addeen Aly Khan (the present Nuwab) succeeded Nazir al Moolk in the month of April 1810. He receives a pension from the English, but has nothing to do with the government.

* An allusion to the fleet.

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Maritime Geography and Statistics; -or, a Description of the Ocean and its Coasts, Maritime Commerce, Navigation, &c. &c. &c. By James Hingston Tuckey, a Commander in the Royal Navy. In four volumes. London. Black & Co. 1816. 8vo. pp. 2461. £2. 16s.

MR. TUCKEY, the author of this work, is the gentleman whose departure from England, in command of the expedition to explore the source of the Niger, has been recently announced to the public;

and we are led to believe, that the abilities displayed by Mr. T. in the volumes before us, have contributed in no small degree to his selection for that arduous and interesting undertaking. The Maritime Geography and Statistics bespeaks a comprehensive, methodical, and indefatigable turn of mind, capable both of conceiving and executing much. Mr. T., in his preface thus explains the design and history of his work. We have learned, that in what he says of his situation as a prisoner of war, he must be considered to pass very lightly indeed over the peculiar afflictions which he experienced in that state, to say nothing of the serious obstacles which it ultimately raised to the satisfactory conclusion of a work which his melancholy leisure had induced him to commence :

If it should be asked how a naval officer could, during the activity of war, find leisure to compile a work requiring the perusal of many thousand volumes, the answer is unfortunately too ready: it was undertaken to pass away the tedions hours of a hopeless captivity, alike

destructive of present happiness and future prospects.

The intention, in the plan adopted, was to produce a work, which with respect

to reference, should possess the utility of a

gazetteer, while by connected description. it might bear a continuity of perusal. How far we have succeeded in this attempt, we must leave to the unerring judgment of the Public; we, however, owe it to ourselves to premise that a portion of its imperfections are attributable to accident, a part of the manuscript having been lost on the disastrous march which, as a prisoner of war, we were obliged to make through France at the commencement of the past year, and which we have been only able to supply in a hasty and consequently imperfect

manner.

The notes are not offered to the natu- › ralist but to the seaman, in the hope of

drawing him from his too general apathy,

and of inspiring him with the desire of noticing, examining, and comparing the

various objects of natural history, which

he is constantly meeting with, and passing by with indifference.

The sources from which we have com

piled are so many, that the enumeration would swell the work without any correspondent utility. We must however notice the "Précis de la Géographie Universelle" of Malte-Brun, the statistical:

works of Catteau Calleville on the North®of Europe, from which we have largely translated in the first volume. In the se

cond our chief sources have been the great national statistical work now publishing: in France; La Borde's Spain; Murphy's Portugal; Thornton, Eton, &c. on Turkey. For the third volume, Mr. Horsburgh's India Directory and Mr. Milburn's Oriental Commerce have afforded

us considerable matter: and in the fourth

volume, Morse, Volney, Beaujour, and Humboldt, have been our chief authori ties for America.

To the extensive and various information contained in Mr. T's. volumes, we know no way of doing justice, but that of presenting to their numerous heads of contents: our readers, a brief enumeration of

phical terms Latitude and longitude VOL. I.-Explanation of marine geograHydrographical division of the Globe→→ Of the Ocean-General utility-Coasts ;

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depth; bottom-Level, saltness-Colour -Luminous appearances-Temperature -Oceanic ices-Greater cold of the southern hemisphere-Springs of fresh water in the sea-Waves-Surf-Tides -Currents, polar currents-Equatorial currents-Tropical current of the Atlantic -Gulph Stream-Current on the coast of Brazil Current on the east side of the Atlantic-Tropical current in the Pacific -Currents of the Indian sea-Superior and inferior currents; whirlpools-Depth and velocity of currents-Changes caused by the sea on the coasts-General effects -Formation of new lands-Changes in the Mediterranean-Changes on the coasts of the Atlantic-Changes in the English channel-Changes on the coast of Holand-Changes on the west coast of Denmark-Changes in the Baltic-Changes on the coast of America-Changes on the coast of Asia-Diminution of the Ocean -Marine vegetation; fucus natans--Zoophites Mollusca-Fishes: cetacious and amphibious animals-Oceanic birdsPortion of land and sea: southern Continent-Of rivers-Of winds, &c.--Causes of winds; velocity; division-Trade winds; in the Atlantic-Deviation on the coast of Africa-Sea of rains; trade winds in the Pacific-Deviation on the coast of Peru- Monsoons Variable winds-Influence of the Moon-Other causes of variable winds; land and sea breeses-Squalls-Hurricanes, TyfoonsTornado, peculiar winds-Water spout Mirage, Aurora Borealis-Zodiacal light, magellanic clouds, fire of St Elmo-Magnetism-An historical essay on the rise and progress of Maritime GeographyFirst period: from the earliest ages, to the decline of the Roman Empire-Voyages of the Phenicians-Cosmography of Homer and Hesiod-Voyages Argonautes -Greek colonies-Geography of Herodotus-Voyages of the Carthagnian Hanno -Voyages of Hamilcar-Atlantides of Plato-Itinerary of Sylcax; Eudorus; Aristotle-Voyage of Pytheas; ThuleExpedition of Alexander-Commercial voyages of the Greeks-Geography of Ipparchus, southern Continent-Geography of Polybius, voyage of Eudorus-Geography of Strabo-Discoveries of the Romans; Canary Islands-Periplus of the Erythrean sea-Pliny-British Isles-Second period of the decline of the Roman empire, to the first voyages of the PortugueseInvasion of the Barbarians-Cosmography of the sixth century-Chart of the eighth century-Voyages of the Arabs-Discoveries of the Scandinavians, Terræ Islands-Iceland, White Sea, Greenland, Winland-Estotiland-Asia of Marc Paul -Third period: from the first voyages of the Portuguese to the ascension of George the Third-Voyages of the Portuguese to the coast of Africa-Discovery

of Madeira, Azores, Cape Bojado-Cape Verd, Senegal, Cape Mesurado, river Zaire-Cape of Good Hope, arrived at― Cape of Good Hope doubled: India, arrived at-Discovery of America-Discoveries of the Portuguese in the Indian seas -Voyage of Magellan; Patagonia-Strait of Magellan, Ladrones, PhilippinesDiscovery of New Guinea; New Holland -Solomon's Island-Discoveries of Quiros and Torres-Voyage of Drake-Predatory voyages to the Grand OceanVoyage of Le Maire-Cape Horn-New Holland; Tasman, Van Diemen's land -New Georgia-Southern land of Davis, New Britain-Falkland's Islands-Voyage of Roggewein-Cape Circumcision, voyage of Anson-Voyages to the North, chiefly in search of a northern passage— Voyages of Cabot, of Cortreal, of Ponce de Leon-Voyages of Willoughby, of Burroughs-Voyages of Frobisher, Barentz, and Davis-Voyages of Heemskirk, Hudson, and Button-Hudson's bay, and Baffin's bay-Voyages of Wood and Hawes-Voyages of the Furnace and Discovery Discoveries of the Spaniards on the NW. coast of America-Fourth period: from the ascension of George the third to the year 1814-Voyages to the Grand and Great Southern Ocean-Voyages of Byron, and Wallis-Voyages of Wallis and Carteret, Otaheite, New Island, &c.-Voyages of BougainvilleVoyages of Surville-First voyage of Cooke, New South Wales-Voyage of Kerguelan - Second voyage of Cooke, Sandwich land, New Caledonia-Voyages to the North-Voyage of Phipps-Third voyage of Cooke, Sandwich Islands, NW. America-Voyage of Vancouver, NW. America-Voyage to the Frozen OceanKamtschatka-Voyage of Behring-Voyage of Billings-Voyage of De Vries to the Jesso Islands-Voyage of Spilbergen, la Perouse, and Broughton to the land of Jesso-Voyages of Baudin and Flinders to New Holland-Voyage of Krusenstern to Japan, &c.-Maritime GeographyFrozen Ocean; geographical positionIces-Climate-Meteors, tides, currents Drift wood, fish-Quadrupeds, birds, rivers-Siberia-Nova Zembla-Russia in Europe-Russian Lapland-Danish Lapland-Iceland-Spitzbergen-Greenland, Lapland and Norway-Islauds and Mountains-Fiords-Currents, whirlpools, Sea monsters-Rivers, islands, and mountains-Finmark-West coast of Norway-South coast of Norway--Commerce of Norway-Navigation of Norway-The Baltic Progress of Geography-Entrance of the Baltic Extent, formation-Gulf of Finland-Depth, level-Irregular elevations-Currents-Waves, whirlpools, saltnessMeteors-Ices-Atmosphere, diminution of the Baltic-Marine plants-Zoophites, smollusca, crustaceous-Fish-Cetaceous

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