The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c12.65.5

v1.c12.65.5

Many of them perished of thirst and hunger, and Ubayd Ullāh died of grief for what he had brought upon his men and the fate that had overtaken them.” Soon after this disastrous Arab expedition “Ḥajjāj made peace with Ratbīl agreeing not to make war upon him for seven years (others say nine years), on condition that he pays thereafter every year 900,000 dirhams in kind.” This peace was respected by Ḥajjāj with scrupulous care, and he dismissed an officer who was disposed to deal “harshly with Ratbīl in regard to the goods which he paid.” In the reign of Caliph Walīd (705-715 A.D.) an attempt was made to exact the “tribute from Ratbīl in coined money.” In 710 A.D. Qutayba, the governor of Khurāsān, undertook a campaign against this “formidable foe” who had made Sijistān “an ill-omened frontier.”¹ The expedition was abortive, and the Arabs were compelled to continue accepting ‘payment in kind.’ In the reign of Caliph Sulaymān (715-17 A.D.) Ratbīl ceased to pay any tribute at all. Balādhuri informs us that “thereafter he did not pay any tribute to any of the *‘āmils* of the Umaiyads or of Abu-Muslim over Sijistān.” It was not till the reign of the Abbasid Caliph al Manṣūr (754-75 A.D.) that active steps were again taken against this prince.