History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c23.9

v1.c23.9

We may here abstract an interesting account of Multan from Cunningham's Archeological Survey Report Vol. V pp 115-120: "The ancient fortress of Multan is situate about 4 miles on the left bank of the Chinab river. Originally it stood on an island in the Ravi which joined the Chinab in ancient times below Multan but which now joins it 32 miles above it. The Bias river also flowed in ancient times in an independent channel to the south of Multan though now it joins the Sutlej far higher up. In approaching Multan from Sind, Chacha had thus to cross first the Sutlej and then the Bias and he reached the left bank of the Ravi at Sikka which was a fort just opposite Multan on the south bank of the Ravi. The Chachanama always mentions Sikka-Multan which were on opposite banks of the Ravi. In Chacha's days the kingdom of Multan was ruled by a Tāki and was subject to Tāki in Hiuen Tsang's time. The Tāki ruler must have remained under Chacha as tributary for we find when Mahamad Kasim invaded Multan in 712 A. D. there was one Bajhra Taki ruler in Sikka who opposed him but who eventually left the place and crossed the Ravi over to Multan. Multan fell before Kasim and remained a Mahomedan kingdom throughout the mediaeval period.