The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 44.2
The Chachnamah, an Ancient History of Sind 44.2
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44.2.1
The writers of history, in giving an account of Déhar’s death and Muhammad Kásim’s victory, have stated, on the authority of some old Bráhmans, that when Rái Déhar departed to Hell, Jaisiah threw himself within the walls of the fort of Bráhmanábád to defend himself. When Ráor was completely lost, Jaisiah began to prepare for war again by collecting men and materials. He sent letters in different directions. First he wrote to his own brother Fófi son of Déhar who was in the fort of the capital city of Arór, then to his nephew Chach son of Daharsiah at Bátiah, then to his cousin Dhal son of Chandar in the country of Budhia and Kíkáván. He informed all of them that Déhar had been killed, and he invited them to join him and fight against their common enemy. Meanwhile he made the necessary preparations for war, and with some brave men made a stand against the enemy at Bráhmanábád.
44.2.2
Muhammad Kásim now determined to march against Bráhmanábád. There were two fortified towns between Ráor and Bráhmanábád, called Bahrór and Dahlelah and there were about 16,000 fighting men in those forts. Muhammad Kásim went to Bahrór where the fighting was so prolonged that he was obliged to remain there for two months. Eventually he ordered that some of his men should fight during the day, and others should throw naphtha arrows and mangonel stones at night. In this way, almost all the fighting men of the enemy were killed, and the castle walls were broken down. The survivors were taken prisoners, and a large booty was secured, one-fifth of which was duly sent to the royal treasury. When the news of the fall of Bahrór reached the people of Dahlelah, and they further learnt that Muhammad Kásim was so very powerful in war that safety was impossible, those of them who were merchants and traders went to various towns of Hind but those who belonged to the military class remained behind to defend their country.
44.2.3
Muhammad Kásim now came up to Dahlelah, and there he halted for about two months, (to lay siege to the place). When the occupants of the fort were pressed very hard and they despaired of help from any direction, they put on the clothes of death and applied otto of roses and other sweet herbs to their bodies (as they used to do to dead bodies), and taking their families with them issued from the gate facing the town of Ramal and managed to cross the waters of the Manjhal, without the knowledge of the Mussulmans. When day-light made its appearance from behind the curtain of dark-night, Muhammad Kásim came to know of their (secret) departure. He then despatched a band of soldiers in pursuit who overtook them just when they were crossing the small river. Some of them were caught and immediately struck down, but those who had already passed over, made their way viâ Ramal to Hindustan, and sought shelter in the country of Sírí, which was then ruled by King Deurái, a cousin of Rái Dáhar’s. When the war with Dahlelah was over, and Muhammad Kásim took possession of the town, he sent the fifth share of booty to the treasury of the Khalifah, and wrote a letter to Hajjáj, in which he gave a detailed account of his successes at Bahrór and Dahlelah.
44.2.4
Muhammad Kásim, then wrote letters to the rulers of Hind and other places, calling upon them all to surrender and to accept the faith of Islam. When Siyákar, Dáhar’s wazír, heard of this he sent some of his confidential servants to Muhammad Kásim offering to surrender if his life were spared. He followed his messengers, and appeared before the Arab general with those very Mussulman women, who had been captured and had been retained as hostages. These were the same women who had called Hajjáj by name to hear their complaint and to come to their help. Muhammad Kásim received Siyákar, in an honourable manner, and poured innumerable favours upon him, and entrusted to him the office of wazír. By Muhammad Kásim’s advice, he became a Mussulman, and thenceforth he became Muhammad Kásim’s counseller, and on all occasions of confidential consultation he used to be with Muhammad Kásim who always sought his advice. In the disposal of political matters and the settlement of state affairs, he was always useful to the Arab general. He used to tell him:—“The scheme enunciated by the just Amír is so sensible and expedient that all the kingdoms of Hind will come into his possession. The laws of government, and the permanent elements of empire of which it is composed will ultimately disarm and subdue all your enemies.
44.2.5
It soothes the subjects and tributaries, secures strict obedience to the law laid down by you, dispenses with any necessity for oppression or compulsion in regard to increased taxes or extraordinary contributions, and gratifies your friends and subordinate officers.” He gave the governorship of Dahlelah to Banbínah son of Dháran. Some say after taking Dahlelah Muhammad Kásim called Banbínah son of Dháran, received homage from him and entrusted to him the work of collecting and superintending the boats along the bank of the river from Dahlelah to a place called Wadhatíah. The distance between that place and Bráhmanábád was one league, and before long Jaisiah son of Dáhar got the news that the army of Islám was on its way to Bráhmanábád.
44.2.6
Muhammad Kásim now moved on till he came to the bank of the small channel of Halwáí to the East of Bráhmanábád, and he fixed his camp there. He sent messengers and trustworthy men to Bráhmanábád, calling upon the people of the place to submit and to be enlisted among the faithful. He proposed to them the alternative of accepting Islám or giving tribute. If they would not choose either, they were told to prepare for war. Jaisiah son of Dáhar had gone to Jankan, before the arrival of the above messengers. He picked out 16 men from the notables of the place and posted four of them at each of the four gates of the city, with their respective bands of soldiers. One of these gates was called Jarbateri or Bahdyr and another Satia, the third Manérah and the fourth Salbah. When Muhammad Kasim arrived, he ordered a ditch to be dug, and on Saturday the first of the month of Rajjib, fighting commenced. Every day the infidels came out with drums and gave battle. They were about 40,000 fighting men in number. From morning till late in the evening, both the parties used to fight fiercely with each other, and when the sun, the king of stars, was about to set, they used to go back to their respective camps; that is, the Mussulmans to their trenches and the káfirs to their fort. In this way they warred for six months. When Muhammad Kasim despaired of taking the fort, his mind became full of anxiety. It was now the close of the month of Zi Hajj 93.
44.2.7
Jaisiah had shifted to the country ruled by king Ramal, called Batiah, and from there he used to harass the army of Islám and rob them on highways. Muhammad Kasim sent a confidential servant to Mékah Basáyeh, and informed him that Jaisiah caused trouble off and on, injured grass-cutters and harassed the troops in many other ways, and he consulted Mékah as to how Jaisiah should be checked. Mékah sent the following reply: “He is at present residing near your camp, and so you should move thence and send a few respectable and trustworthy men from your army after him to extirpate him and his party. There is no other remedy.” Accordingly Muhammad Kasim asked Banánah son of Khantilah Kilábi, Atiyyeh Saalabí, Sérim son of Abi Sérim Hamadáni and Abdul Malik Madani to prepare for that undertaking with their horsemen, and appointed Mékah Basáyeh and Hazím son of Amrúi Musá as their leaders. He supplied them with sufficient provisions for the journey, and sent them off, and they soon arrived at their destination. When Jaisiah received the news of the approach of the Arab army, he lost no time in leaving the place with his valuables and his family, and, passing through a sandy desert, he came to Chankan and Ura Okayah belonging to the province of Jétór. There Aláfí separated from him, and proceeded to the province of Takiah, and thence, with the intention of taking shelter with the king of Kashmir, came to the frontier of Rawím, close to Ráwistán.
44.2.8
The country was all a desert and an extensive plain. From there he wrote letters to the king of Kashmir whose capital was situated further up in the midst of hills, protesting his sincerity, and praying for a refuge. The Ráná of Kashmir, after reading the letters, ordered one of the towns, in the skirts of Kashmir, known by the name of Shakalbár, to be granted to Aláfí. Later on when Aláfí paid a visit to the Ráná, the latter gave 50 saddled horses and 200 valuable robes of honour, as presents to his companions. Aláfí then asked Jehm son of Samah Shámí to go with him and remain in the alienated town of Shakalbár. When Aláfí went again to pay a visit to the Rái of Kashmir, the latter again received him with due honour and distinction, and made gifts to him of an umbrella, a chair and a palanquin. Such honour, according to the prevalent custom of those days, was accorded only to kings. He then sent him back with honour and eclat to the land assigned to him, which was situated in a valley. After some time Aláfí died at Shakalbár and was succeeded by Jehm son of Samah, and his line survives up to this time. He built many mosques and enjoyed great respect and dignity at the Kashmir court.