The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 32.7

32.7

Hearing this, Dáhar said to the native envoy: “If you had not been an envoy, I would have punished you by ordering you to be killed.” The Debalese convert said: “If you are determined to kill me, I have nothing to say in my defence. There are some retaliators, who will avenge my death. They will return you like for like.” Then the Syrian commenced his speech. “We are the envoys of the Amír,” said he, “and have been sent to you, in order to deliver his message to you in the presence of princes and chiefs.” “Speak,” said Dáhar, “for a messenger is merely the deliverer of a message; he merely does his duty in obeying the command of his master.” The Syrian said: “Amír Muhammad Kásim has said: ‘make your choice, either cross the river to us and in that case the passage will be left open to you and you will not be prevented or checked, or else keep the way open for us, so that the Arab army may cross the river and march against you.’ ”