The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 44.3

44.3

Jaisiah went to the province of Jitor and resided there temporarily. He wrote a letter thence to Fofi son of Dahar at Alor communicating to him the reasons for his movements and changes of camp, and advising him strongly to defend the fort of Alor. That letter buoyed up Fofi Dahar’s spirits.
When Muhammad Kasim’s siege of Brahminabad was prolonged to 6 months, and when it was known that Jaisiah was at Janesar, four of the leading citizens, heads of mercantile houses residing in the fort of Brahminabad, met at the fort gate called Jarbateri to confer with one another. They said: “The Arab army has proved triumphant over the whole of the country, Dahar is killed, and for the last 6 months we have remained confined within the walls of this fort. We have not strength enough to cope with the Arab general in the battle-field, and there seems no probability of peace or even of a truce. If he continues in this way for a few days more, he will be ultimately victorious, for there is no one anywhere to hear us and to come to our help, and we must give up every hope of succour. There is among us no king to whom we can appeal, and it is impossible for us to fight on any longer against this army. Now, therefore, let us unite in going out of the fort and fighting till we are killed. For, even if peace is made they will put to death all the men among us who are capable of bearing arms; only common folk, the traders the artisans and the cultivators will be spared. (There is yet another alternative.) If we could be sure of our safety, we would prefer to hand over the fort to him after a solemn covenant is made between us. If we submit to him, he may show us some regard, and we may thus save ourselves through his intervention.” Having (eventually) formed this (latter) resolution, they threw themselves with their families and children on his mercy, and prayed for pardon. Muhammad Kasim granted pardon to them, after solemn promises were mutually made. All the other people capable of bearing arms were beheaded and their followers and dependents made prisoners. All prisoners of or under the age of 30 years were put in chains, and many were killed, while tribute was fixed on the rest.
When Muhammad Kasim received the message of the men of Brahmanábád, he called all the nobles and the grandees and communicated it to them and said: “The envoys from Brahmanábád have come. Hear what they say and give them a reply after due consideration.” Mókáh Basáyeh said: “O commander, of all the cities of Hind, this fortified city is the chief. It is the capital of a whole kingdom. If you conquer this one city, the whole of Sind will come into your possession, and many a strong and impregnable fortress will be within your power and control. The people of the surrounding places will, then, break their connection with and cease to have any regard for, the children of Dáhar. Some will run away and others will voluntarily put the yoke of allegiance on their necks.”