Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 297.7

297.7

Mahomed Kasim, however, encouraging his troops with the hope of aid, wrote to Hijaj Bin Yoosoof, who having heard of his situation before his letters arrived, had already despatched a reinforcement of one thousand horse, with other requisites, to Sind. On receiving this seasonable assistance, Mahomed Kasim again took the field, and attacking the young Ray, several battles ensued, though neither party appears to have obtained any advantage of consequence. Raja Dahir having consulted his astrologers and bramins on the present crisis of his affairs, they declared that it was written in the ancient books, that “at a certain period a prophet would arise from among the people of Arabia, who would succeed in converting many nations to a new persuasion; after which, in the lunar year 86, the Arabian forces would invade the borders of Sind, and in the year 93 they would subdue all those countries.” Raja Dahir having in many instances found the predictions of his astrologers verified placed great reliance on them, but resolved to defend himself with a courage becoming his rank and family. The cup of his life being now filled to the brim, he joined his son’s army, of which he assumed the command in person; and on Wednesday the 10th of Rumzan, in the year 93, with a force consisting of fifty thousand men, composed of Rajpoots, Sindies, and Mooltanies, he marched to attack the Mahomedans. Mahomed Kasim, with barely six thousand troops, mostly Arabian cavalry, waited the onset.