[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Conquests (711–1206)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest) › [Chachnāma](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama) › [The Chachnamah, an Ancient History of Sind](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg) › 15 # The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 15: Rái Chach moves towards Kirmán and marks out the boundary. The Chachnamah, an Ancient History of Sind 15 - **Language:** English ### Rái Chach moves towards Kirmán and marks out the boundary. ### [15.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15.1) When Chach had settled these affairs, the thought about the boundaries of Kirmán became uppermost in his mind. That part of the country was contiguous to the territories of the princes of Hind, and he wanted to define its limits. It was then the second year after the flight of our august lord Muhammad, the prophet of God, on whom and on whose descendants be the blessings of God. After the death of Kasrá son of Hurmuz, the king of Párs or Fárs (Persia), the management (of the) affairs of the kingdom had come into the hands of a woman. When Chach learnt of this state of things, he started with a large army for the territories of Kirmán. At an auspicious hour, discovered by the astrologers, he marched in the direction of Armanbel. That town was then in the hands of a Buddhist Samani descended from the Agents of Rái Sahiras, king of Hind, whom the Rai had elevated for their loyalty and devotion. In course of time, however, he had thrown off his yoke and had become his opponent. (This ruler) now came forth to receive Rái Chach. As his promises of fidelity and his cordial behaviour made a good impression on Chach’s mind, friendship and amity were firmly established between the two. Chach proceeded thence to the district of Makrán. Whosoever he encountered submitted to him. When he went beyond the steep declivity and the hills of Makran, he found himself in the division of Bakr. There was an ancient fort in that town, called Kaubar (or Kang or Kanarpur or Kinarpur). ### [15.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15.2) He took possession of it, and ordered it to be reconstructed. He also arranged that, according to the established Indian custom, kettle-drums should be beaten and other musical instruments sounded at the approach of evening and the break of day in the fort; that is to say, the sound of kettle drums was to be accompanied by that of a musical instrument. He collected the people of the surrounding villages, and employed them in re-building the fort. Then he left the place and came to Kirmán. There is a small river running between Kirmán and Makrán. He encamped there, and marked out the eastern boundary line, by declaring that certain date trees growing there defined the limit between Kirman and Makran. Further, he planted a grove of date trees in a place on the banks of the stream, and branded into them the words:—“This is the boundary that existed in the days of Chach son of Seláij, son of Bísás, the king of Sind, and this day it came into our possession.” ### [15.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15.3) From there, Chach returned to Armanbel, and passing through the district of Túrán, he came into the desert, and no one dared to fight with him, till he arrived at Kandáíl (or Kandhábel), otherwise called Kandhár. From the valley extending to the open plain in the outskirts of that place, Chach prepared to make a sudden assault on the city, but the people had already sheltered themselves in the fort. When he came to the river Síní (or Samní), he encamped there, until the people were reduced to straits, and fixed on themselves an annual tribute of 100 hill ponies and 100,000 dirams. They gave one year’s tribute then and there. A treaty was then made and Chach returned to his capital Alór, and he remained there till he bade adieu to this world. His reign lasted for forty years. After the death of Chach son of Seláij, his brother Chandar ascended the throne at the capital city of Alór. He strengthened and promulgated the religion of monks (násik) and hermits (ráhib). He brought many people together with his sword, and made them turn back to his faith. He received many letters from the chiefs of Hind. Mattah the ruler of Síwistán had gone to the king of Kanúj. In those days, the country of Hindustán was in a flourishing condition and was under a Ráná, and Kanúj was under the rule of Sahiras son of Rásil. Mattah went to him and said: “Chach son of Seláij is dead and his brother Chandar, a monk (ráhib), has succeeded him. ### [15.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15.4) But he is a devotee (násik) and spends his whole time with other devotees (Násiks) in his temple in the study of his religion. It will be very easy to deprive him of the kingdom. If Your Majesty takes possession of his country and hands it over to me, I will impose a tribute for those parts on myself, and send it regularly to the royal treasury.’ Sahiras said to Mattah: “Chach was a great king and had a spacious dominion. As he is gone (to his rest), I will take that whole country and bring it under my own rule. Thereby, my territories will be greatly extended, and I will appoint you as a governor of one of their divisions.” Then Sahiras sent his brother Barhas son of Rásil (or Kasáis) to Kashmir for help. A grandson of the great Chach (by his daughter) was then the king of Kashmir and Ramal. He made a compact and joined in the undertaking, and they started with their armies, in order to invade the country of Chandar. Arriving at the rivulet Hási (or Háshi), they encamped there. The agents and officers of Chandar who were in the fort of Dew Dhandz (or Dew Dhanúsh) fled thence. The invaders appointed their own agents at the place in their stead and they went on, stage by stage, till they arrived at Kahtíveh. There they stayed for a month, and engaged themselves in offering prayers to Budh. At the same time, they sent a letter with a messenger to Chandar, asking him to surrender and submit and sue for his safety. ### [15.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15.5) When Chandar heard this, he declined to do so, and shutting himself into the fort, began to prepare for war. He immediately sent Dharsiah, a son of Chach, to Brahmanábád, where all the residents of the town and the Lohánah came forward to receive him, and paid their respects to him; and Chandar himself with Dáhar, the younger son of Chach, took up his position in the fort of Alór and carried out measures (for its defence) with care and diligence. The army of Sahiras beseiged the fort, and continued their assaults steadily. When (however) he gained no victory over the occupants of the fort, he thought of having recourse to a strategem, and sued for an amicable settlement. His object was to bring Dáhar out (by some means), and to capture him and to kill him, for (he thought) the fort would easily fall into his hands, and his sovereignty would be firmly established, when Dáhar was secured and killed. ### [15.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15.6) (With this object in view), Rásil, Sahiras and Barhás sent an envoy to Dáhar (Chandar ?) to deliver the following message: “We have unanimously decided to return and we are ready to make peace with you on certain solemn conditions. Let this country remain with you as before. If Déhar comes to visit us (in order to settle the matter personally), we will send him back (to you) quite safe and sound.” Dahar, taking 500 men selected from the centre (lit. heart) of the army, out of famous warriors, issued forth to settle the terms of peace and to bring about reconciliation between the two parties. To all of his chief men he said: “We have full-confidence in your bravery, and courage and watchfulness.” He encouraged them all and won their hearts by splendid promises. Thus, they went on till they arrived at the door of Rásil’s palace. Rásil ordered them to be kept at the door. Then he called a chamberlain and told him: “Go down with some trustworthy persons and swordsmen, and tell (those men at the door) that I have heard the praise of their swords, and I wish them to send up their arms that I may select one of them and keep it with me as a memento. When they give up their arms, seize their hands and capture them, or else kill them.” Accordingly, the chamberlain came down upon that pretext and, standing under a portico, began to ask the men to hand over their swords. Accidentally the vault of the portico fell down and the chamberlain remained under it. ### [15.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15.7) King Rásil himself then descended, and called all of them to himself, and asked each to show him the weapons. He went on taking and examining the sword of each and throwing it in front of them. When he came to Déhar son of Chach, he told him: “Show me your sword.” Déhar said: “O king, this poniard belongs to my brother; I cannot part with it. Look at it in my hands.” When he came very close to Dáhar, a swordsman of Déhar’s stepped forward, and said, “O king, of all these swords, mine is the best.” When Rásil went near him in order to take the sword from him, the swordsman bounded like a fierce lion, caught hold of Rásil’s beard, threw him down and sat on his chest, and said, “I am going to kill you.” Just then, Dáhar and his men encircled him and drew their swords. When Rasil saw that there was no help, he said: “What do you want from me? I am ready to make a solemn promise to you, and will faithfully abide by it and never contravene it.” Dahar said: “It is evident to me that you had resolved to practise deception on us, and we can’t now place any trust in your words or promises. The punishment of treachery and perfidy first fell upon your door-keeper, who died under the vault; then you became a prisoner in our hands. Now give us a hostage that you will return the fort of Dew Dhanaz (Dew Dhanush), and our hostages whom you have detained with you; then we shall return your hostages.” Rasil sent his hostages to Alór. ### [15.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15.8) Five chief men among the nobles were detained in the fort of Alór; then Rasil was set at liberty, as he promised to do what he was asked to do. Dahar sent the hostages to Brahmanábád. Rasil now departed with his 500 swordsmen, and he took with himself some confidential servants of Dahar. He returned the forts (he had taken) and released the men whom he had imprisoned. When Dahar received letters from his confidential servants, written from the forts that had now been returned to them, he sent back Rasil’s hostages giving them dresses of honour. Then, peace was concluded between them, and they became friends. ### [15.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15.9) Now the (charge of the) kingdom devolved upon Chandar, and his subjects were at ease owing to his conciliatory measures; and the business of the State was well-regulated. Chandar’s reign lasted for 7 years. In the eighth year he died. Dahar now sat on the throne of Alór and Duraj son of Chandar established himself at Brahmanábád. The reign of Duraj did not exceed one year. Then Daharsiah son of Chach put himself in possession of Brahmanábád. His sister Bai agreed to live with him, and be under his protection. Daharsiah married Agham’s daughter, and remained (at Brahmanábád) for 5 years. He sent letters to the governors of different divisions of the country, and received promises of allegiance from all. Then, Daharsiah came to Raor where Chach had laid the foundations of a fort, but had died before its completion. Daharsiah stayed there for some time and completed the construction of the fort. He collected the country people of the vicinity, and with a number of respectable and well-known persons settled them there. When the place was populated he gave it the name of Ráor. Then he returned to Brahmanábád, and the affairs of the country were thoroughly settled. ### [15.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15.10) When Daharsiah came to know that his sister had reached the age of maturity, he became anxious (to see her married) as she was a grown up woman. The astrologers declared her horoscope to be an auspicious one. While he was considering (what he should do) the messengers of Sohan king of Bátiah in the country of Ramal arrived to ask for the hand of the princess. Daharsiah, being the eldest brother, prepared a royal dowry, and sent with her 700 young horses and 500 brave Thakurs, and wrote letters to Dahar, requesting him to give away Bai to the king of Batiah who had stipulated that a fort should be handed over to him as her marriage portion. (Daharsiah’s) messenger arrived at Alór, and remained there for about a month. There was an astrologer, out of the wise men of Hind, who was perfectly acquainted with many sciences. One day, a noble of the place, who had put a question to him and had got a correct answer from him, came to king Dahar. The latter asked him: “What kept you busy to-day, that you came so late, and considered that business more important than your attendance on me.” The Thakur replied: “Long life to the king! Something had happened about which my mind was very uneasy and anxious. There is a Brahman astrologer, who is a learned man and very clever in the science of the stars. He foretells events readily and correctly, and, by experience, I found his prognostications to be quite accurate.” He then went into details and stated the circumstances fully. ### [15.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15.11) ‘When Daharsiah received this letter, he understood that Déhar refused to come, and that he laid flattering unction to his soul; and paid no attention to the advice of his brother. He (therefore) ordered preparations to be made for his journey, and the necessary provisions collected, and in an auspicious hour, he started with great expedition. For some days he had to travel through dangerous deserts and valleys interspersed with running streams. (While journeying through deserts) he made tanks and caused leather bags and pitchers of water to be carried, that his men might have a sufficient supply of water and not feel thirsty. In this manner, he travelled for some days and then halted for some days. He acted with much dissimulation, his object being to deceive Déhar, and, by some contrivance or stratagem, to secure him. He went on sending men to bring news of Déhar, and moved here and there, on his route, in search of game, so that it might be believed that he was on a hunting excursion, and Dahar should not avoid him. Déhar, on the other hand, was spending his whole day in the enjoyment of pleasures and kept himself busy that way. (But), from time to time, he sent spies to public roads and hunting places, and was very watchful. ### [15.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15.12) He posted faithful warriors fully armed, on every side, and kept trustworthy men and confidential intelligencers on all the four gates of the castle in order that they might protect the entrance with zeal and concentrated attention and without interruption. Daharsiah thought that Déhar might have repented of his folly. But, when he came to within 3 days’ journey from Alór, his spies came and informed him that Dahar and his men were busy the whole day with pleasures and amusements, and did not trouble their thoughts about Daharsiah. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.chachnama~en-kalichbeg.15) · Pramāṇa