Jawamiʿ al-hikayat wa lawamiʿ al-riwayat 11: Rai Kamlu and the Governor of Zabulistan. [I. xii. 18.]

11

It is related that 'Amru Lais conferred the governorship of Zabulistan on Fardaghan and sent him there at the head of four thousand horse. There was a large Hindu place of worship in that country, which was called Sakawand, and people used to come on pilgrimage from the most remote parts of Hindustan to the idols of that place. When Fardaghan arrived in Zabulistan he led his army against it, took the temple, broke the idols in pieces, and overthrew the idolaters. Some of the plunder he distributed among the troops, the rest he sent to 'Amru Lais, informing him of the conquest, and asking for reinforcements. When the news of the fall of Sakawand reached Kamlu, who was Rai of Hindustan, he collected an innumerable army and marched towards Zabulistan. Upon hearing of this march, Fardaghan secured several Hindus and sent them to Hindustan. These men entered the camp of Kamlu and reported to him that when Fardaghan had conquered Sakawand, he immediately despatched people to different quarters of the country, calling for additional forces, knowing that the Hindu would certainly endeavour to take revenge. The result was that an army of Muhammadans had been collected around him, such as would coerce the very ends of the earth. Behind him also the army of 'Amru Lais was advancing, with the design of leading their antagonists into the defiles and there slaughtering them all. When Rai Kamlu heard this intelligence, he halted where he was, and was very cautious in his movements. In the mean-time, Fardaghan received reinforcements from Khurasan, such that the enemy had not the power to cope with. By this ingenious device he succeeded in his object.