The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 1

1

[The MS. referred to as A. is Sir H. M. Elliot's copy. B. is that belonging to the East India Library, which has been referred to in obscure passages and for doubtful names.]
Commencement of the book upon the history of Rai Dahir, son of Chach, son of Silaij, and of his death at the hands of Muhammad Kasim Sakifi.
Chroniclers and historians have related that the city of Alor, the capital of Hind and Sind, was a large city adorned with all kinds of palaces and villas, gardens and groves, reservoirs and streams, parterres and flowers. It was situated on the banks of the Sihun, which they call Mihran. This delightful city had a king, whose name was Siharas, son of Sahasi Rai Shahi. He possessed great wealth and treasures. His justice was diffused over the earth, and his generosity was renowned in the world. The boundaries of his dominions extended on the east to Kashmir, on the west to Makran, on the south to the shores of the ocean and to Debal, and on the north to the mountains of Kardan and to Kaikanan. He had established four maliks, or governors, in his territories. The first at Brahmanabad and the forts of Nirun, Debal, Lohana, Lakha, and Samma, down to the sea (darya), were placed in his charge. The second at the town of Siwistan: under him were placed Budhpur, Jankan, and the skirts of the hills of Rujhan to the borders of Makran. The third at the fort of Askalanda and Pabiya, which are called Talwara and Chachpur; under him were placed their dependencies to the frontier of Budhpur.
The fourth at the great city of Multan and Sikka, and Brahmapur and Karur, and Ashahar and Kumba, as far as the borders of Kashmir, were under his government. He (the king) himself dwelt at the capital, Alor, and kept under his own rule Kardan, and Kaikanan and Banarhas. He enjoined upon every one of his princes the necessity of being prepared for war, by keeping the implements of warfare, arms, and horses ready. He also ordered them to attend to the security of the country, the conciliation of the subjects, and the reparation of the buildings, so that they might keep their districts and dependencies safe. Throughout his dominions there was no disaffected person who could make any pretensions against the specification of his frontiers. Suddenly, by the decree of God, the army of the king of Nimroz marched from Fars to Makran. When Siharas heard this he went forth from the fort of Alor, haughty in mind and careless in heart, with the main part of his army to encounter him. They joined battle, and when many brave men and tried warriors, on both sides, had been slain, the Persian army, placing their whole trust in the Almighty, made an assault, and broke and put to flight the army of Rai Siharas. He himself stood firm, fighting for his name and honour, until he was killed. The king of Fars then returned to Nimroz, and Rai Sahasi, son of Siharas, sat upon the throne of his father. He established his authority in the country, and the four princes who had been appointed by his father submitted and assented to him, exhibiting every mark of obedience, placing their wealth at his disposal, and supporting him with honesty and energy. The whole country was thus safely secured in the power of Rai Sahasi; and the people lived happily under his just and equitable rule. He had a chamberlain named Ram, son of Abi (?), a man of science and wisdom. This man had full and general authority over all parts of the dominions of Rai Sahasi; no person could enter or leave the king's service but through him. The duties of chief secretary were entrusted to him, and Rai Sahasi had faith in his eloquent pen, and never doubted his rectitude.