The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 35.1.4

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.