The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 35.1
The Chachnamah, an Ancient History of Sind 35.1
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35.1.1
Tayyár took with him the man who gave him this information, and starting on his return journey, duly communicated the same to Hajjáj. Hajjáj Yusif became very sad and afflicted at heart on hearing it. He came to his residence and called his nobles and learned men and sage philosophers, for consultation. When he came out again, he asked Tayyár to bring the Sindhi messenger to his presence, that he (the messenger) might personally give an account of what he had seen and pondered over. Accordingly, the man was taken to Hajjáj when the latter was at leisure. Hajjáj asked him: “Whence do you come?” “From Sind,” replied the man. “What do you know about Muhammad Kásim (and his troops)?” enquired Hajjáj again. “They are all quite well and safe,” said the man. “Only a sort of leprosy broke out among the horses and many fell victims to it. I left the place after that calamity was over. Now corn is cheap there, and those of the horses that escaped the ravages of the fell disease, are quite healthy. The merchants of that country are importing corn from outside.
35.1.2
Mókak Baséyeh, the ruler of Bet, is steadily managing that affair.’ Then Hajjáj said: “My envoy gave me a different version.” The Sindhi messenger replied:—“He heard an account from me but it was not a complete one.’ ‘Why did you not” asked Hajjáj, “give him complete information?” ‘Because,’ answered the man, “I did not think it proper that the public should cast an evil eye upon the army on hearing such joyous news and both our evil wishers and well wishers should become acquainted with it.” Then Hajjáj sent that man with a letter to the capital of the Khalifah to inform him of every thing that he had seen.
35.1.3
Hajjáj, after hearing the above news, sent 2,000 selected horses to Muhammad Kásim, and wrote the following letter to him. “From Hajjáj son of Yúsif to Muhammad Kásim. I learn from your letter as well as from a person who has come from those parts that some of the horses have died and the rest are doing well. So I send you 2,000 other horses. You must distribute these among those of your trustworthy men and warriors and officers of the army, who are deserving, and among those men who are fit for riding and can take proper care of their horses. Marshal your army in such a manner that with their strength and formidable appearance you may be able to subdue your enemy. But the best advice to you, for subduing the infidels, is that no one depending upon his own wishes is likely to gain his object or have his prayer granted. For the great God has said: ‘Shall man have whatever he wisheth for? The life to come and the present life are God’s.’ And I did not undertake this business myself till God set me on these infidels, for their day is done and good fortune has turned its face from them. The spiritual path, the religious law and the true faith have at last made their appearance, and the banner of piety has raised its head. You must manage anyhow, to collect boats to form a bridge over the river, in order to cross it without difficulty. Let the káfirs know all this though they will much dislike it.”
35.1.4
When Muhammad Kasim got the letter, and the horses also arrived he wrote a reply giving fresh local news. Among other things, he requested to be supplied with something sour or acid. “I shall be much obliged,” wrote he, “by your sending a little vinegar from your own stores or securing it in any other way, as my men badly require it, because owing to their eating disagreeable kinds of food out of season, the humours of their bodies are disturbed and they get unwell.” On receiving this letter, Hajjáj ordered some dressed cotton to be soaked in vinegar and dried. This was done repeatedly, till the cotton had taken up a good quantity of vinegar. It was, then, sewn in bales and brought to the Arab camp. A letter was also written to Muhammad Kasim stating that at his request, dressed cotton, soaked in vinegar, had been prepared, and that when it was received it had only to be soaked in water, to give out vinegar. It is related by Khwajah Imám Ibrahim, the writer of this part of the history, that when Muhammad Kasim was passing his time inactively on the western bank of the Mehran, Hajjáj despatched a letter to him appointing him his deputy with plenary powers and telling him angrily. “I am dissatisfied with you and am surprised at your lenient policy. I really cannot understand why you should be so much bent upon showing mercy to the people. When you have tried an enemy and found him to be your opponent and ill-wisher, you should not be so kind to him.
35.1.5
You should exercise proper discretion and discrimination and should not consider high and low equal or on the same footing; for, that will show a weakness of reason and sense, and the enemy will attribute it to languor and indolence. I swear by my soul and by my head, that the great and glorious God has given you good counsels to follow and placed reason in you to guide you. It shows deficiency of courage to be lenient and merciful to each and all. Tell this to your officers and to your friends, who are attached to you. It is strange that after gaining the upper hand and subduing the enemy, you have so long remained inactive and have been showing mercy to them. It is such a long time since you have been sitting in one place just opposite your enemy. If they are straightforward and are really anxious for mercy and have no treachery in their hearts, let them desist from fighting. Then only practical means will be found to meet the expenditure of the war, and this prolonged enterprise will come to an end. I cannot but feel surprise at the weakness and indiscreetness of your policy. People will believe that you are trying to bring about peace and they will attribute your present conduct to lethargy and want of judgment. In this way no object will be gained. You ought not to give up the ways of imperialism and strong handed domination, and you should exercise discretion and inspire awe in order to subdue the enemy completely.
35.1.6
You should give effect to every just resolution, and make your army show bravery as well as patience. Be a speaker of truth. Do not be negligent. Remember the great God, and obey His commands with your heart and soul. Now that you have become well acquainted with the course of the river Mehran, you should cross it at the place called Bet, inasmuch as about that place the river is small in breadth, and its banks are suitable for taking over the horses and as there is a small island between the two waters you can cross gradually. Take all the necessary precautions for your own protection and safety. Make a bridge of boats. At the time of battle, be constantly asking the help of God, and consider the victory of the king, (may his power be great) near and with you. If you behave vigorously and inspire terror, the subjects as well as the military will pay obeisance to you to save their lives, and will take your side.” The authors of histories and the narrators of tales have stated that when Muhammad Kasim got Hajjáj’s letter, he, forthwith, in accordance with the orders received, started from his camp and came to the country of Sakrah, in the district of Jhim. He ordered boats to be brought to cross the river and planks put on them to connect them. On the other side, Rái Dahar appeared to be careless and negligent, and engaged himself in amusements and pleasures and hunts and games, in order to make the enemy believe that he was no way afraid.
35.1.7
One day Bhandwir Samani came to Dahar, and said: ‘O king, I see you busy the whole day with nothing but hunting and pleasures. You are amusing yourself with the games of chess and dice, while the Arab army has already arrived and alighted by your capital.’ ‘What plan can you suggest?’ asked Dahar. ‘Three plans occur to me,’ replied the Samani; ‘follow any of them. If you think it proper send away your children and dependents to Hind, and face the enemy alone in battle. You may then attack them in any direction you like, and fight with them, with your mailed animals, furious elephants, brave men and warriors. You should stop all the ways, so that they may not obtain grain and fodder. Or if you like, assemble round yourself all the forces that are, at this moment, under your command, and divide them into van-guard and rear-guard to cover your retreat, and then leave this place and go farther off to the territory behind that sandy desert, which will serve as a refuge to you. The residents of those parts will come to your assistance. Tell them:—‘I am a wall between you and the Arab army; if they do me any harm, you too will not escape destruction. So better come and enroll yourselves under my command and help me to fight.’ The third plan is that you should take your property and your followers with you to the territory of Jásam. That prince knows you very well, and will help you in every way.
35.1.8
When you have managed to secure his assistance, you need not fear that any enemy will jeopardize the safety of your kingdom. The Arab army, then, can never derive any advantage from this country, and as long as the king is living, the enemy cannot but be foiled. Should an evil eye unfortunately fall on you and the enemy become successful and kill you, then none of the princes of Hind, will ever be able to defeat them, and this kingdom will come into their possession, and your connection will be cut off from every part of the country, as it must needs go entirely out of your hands.’ Dahar said: ‘O wise wazir, whatever plan you suggest, must be the best and the right one, but, at such a crisis, I do not think it proper or expedient, to send my dependents to any place in Hind, as thereby my subjects will be greatly perplexed, and the Thakurs and nobles will be much disheartened, and so will leave off fighting and disperse. I too consider it shameful and humiliating to me to make entreaties to another (prince), or to go to his door and await his permission to see him. No, this shame I cannot bear.” The wazir said: “What then is your plan? Let your slaves know it, so that they may join your personal attendants in consultation, and give you the best advice.” Rai Dahar said: “My plan is to meet the Arabs in open battle, and fight with them with all possible vigour. If I overpower them, I shall crush them to death and my kingdom will then be put on a firm footing.
35.1.9
But if I am killed honourably, the event will be recorded in the books of Arabia and Hind, and will be talked of by great men, and will be heard of by other kings in the world, and it will be said that such and such a king sacrificed his precious life for the sake of his country, in fighting with the enemy.” The Samani then said:—“My wish is that the king himself may live long and the kingdom may be firmly established. As for your slaves, it is easy for them to live contentedly on a handful of corn, and a mouthful of water, and with a little coarse cloth for their dress. The opinion of your majesty is the best.”