O.P. A GUIDE TO BENGAL: BEING A CLOSE TRANSLATION OF ISHWAR CHANDRA SHARMA'S BENGALLEE VERSION OF THAT PORTION OF MARSHMAN'S HISTORY OF BENGAL, WHICH COMPRIZES THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE WITH NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS, BY MAJOR G. T. MARSHALL, SECRETARY AND EXAMINER TO THE COLLEGE OF FORT WILLIAM. CALCUTTA : .PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT PRINTED AND SOLD BY MESSRS P. S. D'ROZARIO AND Co. M.D.CCC.L. PREFACE. IN January, 1846, the Government of Bengal sanctioned and patronized the publication of two new Test Books for the examination of the Students of the College of Fort William in the Bengallee language, one of which, it was proposed, should be descriptive of Hindoo notions, such as the History of one of their celebrated Mythological or Classical personages, and the other should embody European ideas, such as the History of the British in Bengal or India. Accordingly two works were prepared by Ishwar Chandra Sharma, namely, "Betala Panchabingshati," being a translation of the Hindee work "Bytal Pachisi," containing legends of Rājā Vikramaditya, and "Bangalar Itihās," being a free translation of that portion of Marshman's History of Bengal which comprehends the rise and progress of the British Dominion in Bengal. Of this last Book the following work is a retranslation into English, published with the sanction of Mr. J. C. Marshman, the talented author of the original English work, and under the patronage of the Government of Bengal. My principal objects in this undertaking have been, to give a specimen of close and accurate translation combined with a due regard to the idiom of the language translated into, and iv to illustrate by notes the etymology and idiomatic peculiarities of the language translated from. I have added Notes and Observations bearing upon the Geography and Statistics of Bengal, and. the opinions and customs of its inhabitants. Taking the work as a whole, it may be considered as conveying hint on a number of interesting subjects; and on this ground I have ventured to style it a "Guide to Bengal." It is no doubt a very imperfect Guide, pointing out only prominent paths, and not entering into details; but I trust it is correct as far as it goes, and that the hints it conveys may assist and encourage intelligent Students further to enquire and discover for themselves. THE HISTORY OF BENGAL. CHAPTER XI. 1. On the 10th of April, 1756, Sirajooddowlah (1) became possessed (2) of the throne (3) of Bengal and Behar. At that time the Emperor of Delhi had fallen into so low a condition, that the new Nuwab(4) did not think it any longer necessary to ask him for a deed of confirmation. (5) 2. On obtaining possession of the Government, the first thing he did was to send a force to carry off all the wealth of his paternal uncle's wife. His paternal uncle Nivaish Mahommed had during his sixteen years' government of Dacca, amassed immense riches; after his death (6) his wife became successor to all his property. The troops whom that widow woman had entertained to guard her possessions fled at the time for action. (7) (1) fagtm01 Sirājuddaolā (Arabic No Sirājuddaolah) The lamp of the state. (2) afsi adhikārī Sanst. Having title or property, (from অধিকার.) (3) The Vice-regal throne of course. (4) 77 Nabāb (Arabic Nawwab, superlative form of ↳ Naib) a Deputy, a Viceroy. (5) Sanand (Corruption of the Arabic lia Sanad) a Diploma, Warrant, Deed, Grant,-In Sanscrit the word * sana is commonly used in these senses. Shā (6) লোকান্তর প্রাপ্ত হইলে Lokāntara prāpta hoile : being gone to another world. A. D. 1756. (7) Kārjya, (Sanst.) Duty, object. B |
