1 Expeditions against
2 Bindh and Biluchis-
3 tan,
4 Kisim, tho Arab
5 general,
6 First conquest of
7 Sindh and Multan.
8 Death cf Kisim.,
9 76 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
10 as musk; and the loss of his limbs shall be replaced with wings of
11 angels and cherubim.” He who perished in a holy war went straight to
12 Heaven. In Paradise nymphs of fascinating beauty impatiently waited to
13 greet his first approach. There the gallant martyrs lived for ever a life of
14 happiness and bliss, free from all sorrows, and liable to no inconvenience
15 from excess. They would possess thousands of beautiful slaves, and get
16 houses furnished with splendid gardens, and with all the luxuries of life,
17 to live in. Such liberal promises of future happiness, added to an immedi-
18 ate prospect of riches and wealth, were enough to kindle the frenzy of the
19 desert population of Arabia. Their martial spirit was roused, and their
20 sensual passions were inflamed. As early as 589 A.D, in the 31st year
21 of the Hijra, the Mahomedans penetrated into the extensive province of
22 Khorasén, comprising the greater part of the original dominions of the
23 imperial family of Ghazni, under Abdulla, son of Amir, one of the generals
24 of Caliph Usman, and thirteen years later they conquered Kabul in the south
25 of Persia. Caliph Umr founded Basra, from which place expeditions against
26 Sindh and Bilichistén were undertaken.
27 The immense and fertile territory of Mdvar-un-Nahr, the Transoxiana
28 of the ancients, though invaded by Abdulla, the son of the famous Zeiad,
29 governor of Basra, in the time of the Caliph Modvid, in the 58rd year, Hijri,
30 was not completely conquered by the Mahomedans till the 83th year, Hijri,
31 when the great cities of Bokhdra and Samarkand were conquered by the
32 Arab general Katiba. In the year 711 a.p. the Governor of the Hijaz
33 despatched a considerable army, under his nephew Kasim, to obtain the resti-
34 tution of an Arab vessel which had been detained at the mouth of the Indus
35 by Rdjé Dahu, the prince of the country. The Hindu rdjé assembled a nu-
36 merous force, but Kdsim carried by storm a celebrated temple held in great
37 sanctity by the Brahmins, where a large booty fell into the hands of the
38 Mahomedan invaders. The Hindus were panic-stricken and fled, their rajé
39 having perished in the field of battle. Elated with this triumph, the youth-
40 ful Arab general advanced to the capital of Dahi, Brahminabdd, which
41 was gallantly defended by the Hindu queen. In an attack made by the
42 Mahomedans, this lady, with her Rajput bodyguard, perished, and the whole
43 country was at the mercy of the invaders. Kdsim then marched to Multdn,
44 which was carried by assault, and a few more victories of less importance
45 completed the conquest of Sindh. The conqueror now turned his attention
46 towards the consolidation of his dominions, and the conciliation of the
47 people, when a circumstance happened which abruptly terminated his use-
48 ful career. The rdjd had two beautiful daughters, who, on the death of the
49 monarch, were sent to Damascus by Késim for the harem of his sovereign,
50 Sega ae eae asta before the Grand Seignior, one of the damsels
51 rs, declaring her unfitness for the high place that was about
52 to be accorded to her in the royal seraglio, in consequence of her having
53 me dishonoured by Kdsim_ before she had left India. The anger of the
54 ing was roused, and a mandate was issued to sew the body of the con-
55 queror of Sindh in a rawhide and send it to Damascus. When the body
56 arrived, the Hindu princess acknowledged the innocence of Késim, but
57 rejoiced at having had the death of her father aven ed. Both ladies were
58 ee oe ee one by order of the Caliph who vainly lamented
59 Mlahoiiedan. Sac Sindh o ee ae ace pts
60 ined a blow which it was never
61 atceraigem a postion fo revive, "His agoetors ruled. the country fo
62 u e f . x e
63 became masters of the land. Jput tribes of Sumera, having expelled them,
64 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh J i eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com