The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c11.2

v1.c11.2

The area indicated by the word *Sind* has varied from age to age. The Hindu geographers probably included the lower Indus valley in the term *Sindhu-Sauvīra*.¹ When Yuan Chwang visited Sind, the whole region from Shikarpur down to the sea was politically subject to Sind, but of this area *Sin-tu* (Sind) appears to have formed only a small portion.² To the Arab writers however *as-Sind* meant a much bigger area. Thus Balādhurī (9th century A.D.) describes al-Kīkān (modern Kelat³ in Baluchistan) as 'part of the land of *as-Sind* where it borders on Khurāsān.'⁴ Mukaddasī (10th century A.D.) praises 'al-Lahūm,' a city in Bāmiyān as 'the trade port of Khurāsān and the treasure house of Sind.'⁵ This passage probably refers to the proximity of the frontiers of Bāmiyān, Khurāsān, and Sind. Multan, which was outside Sind in the time of Yuan Chwang, was also included in *as-Sind* by the Arab historians. The boundaries of Sind in the east cannot be precisely indicated.