History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c14.25

v1.c14.25

To return to our story, Mahomed Kasim was encamped on the west bank of the Indus for a long time unable to find a way to cross it. The river was certainly a great obstacle before him and Dahar was not unmindful of his duty and his opportunity. He made preparations to oppose the Arabs there. He had already called Jaisia his son from the opposite bank to his and now posted him with a strong force to oppose the crossing. He himself came down with a large army from Alor his capital and encamped in the open plain at some distance from Jaisiah. He even came down to the bank of the river opposite to the Arabs. He was a strong powerful man and a great archer. The Mahomedan historian himself relates how he strung his strong bow which none else could string and drawing it to its full length shot an arrow accross the river and killed an Arab horseman who also wanted to shoot Dahar from his side. This brave deed testifies to Dahar's strength and fearlessness which were not inferior to those of Poros before him and Prithviraj after him. But the strength and bravery of one man or many Rajput warriors was not of much avail against the bigotted impetuosity of the Arabs aided by defection on the side of the Indians. For here we come to the third cause of India's fall viz. the defection and treachery of its own sons which we proceed to describe as related in this Arab history itself.