1 92 Of the early History of Sindh. [No. 111. 



the assistance of Mokeh Bin Bussayeh, he collected some boats, and 

 filling them with sand and stones, commenced a bridge for the passage 

 of his army ; it was under many difficulties and obstructions at length 

 Bin Cassim crosses com pleted ; the first detachment of the Faithful pass- 



the rivers, notwith- e( j tne r j ver under a shower of arrows from the infi- 

 standing Dahir s op- 

 position, dels, who were collected in strength on the opposite 



bank ; but these being driven back, the whole of the army of Bin 



Cassim passed without further molestation. It is reported that Dahir s 



Dahir' s consternation, rage on receiving the intelligence was so great, 



that he killed the messenger who was the bearer of it. 



Bin Cassim now exhorted his soldiers to firmness : " the river was 

 in their rear, and the enemy in front, still if any were faint-hearted 

 amongst them, then was the time to quit the army, and return to their 

 own country." There were only three of the whole host who did so. 

 Bin Cassim having thus secured the co-operation of his troops, pro- 

 ceeded onwards to Jeyoor, near which place he first caught a glimpse of 

 Dahir's forces ; he detached Muhuzzin Bin Sabit Kiessee with 2,000 

 men, and Mahomed Zyad ul Huddee with 1,000, to oppose them. 

 In the mean time, Dahir called Mahomed Haris Ullafee to him, and 

 said : " I have protected and promoted you ; now is the time to requite 

 my kindness, and to shew yourself worthy of my confidence." Mahomed 

 Haris excused himself by saying, that he could not oppose the Mos- 

 lems without being a renegade to the faith he professed. Dahir therefore 

 deputed his son Jaisch to lead his army against Bin Cassim ; he did 

 so, but was defeated with great slaughter, and Bin Cassim advanced 

 upon Alor, which he besieged. 



On the 10th of the month Ramzan, in the year ninety-three Hejira, 

 Dahir comes out from Rajah Dahir determined to make one bold stroke 

 Alorvfith a large army, for his crown and kingdom; came out from the 

 city of Alor with an immense army ; they say he had 30,000 

 infantry in advance of his cavalry and elephants ; he himself seated 

 on an elephant, the howdah of which was richly ornamented, 

 passed to the right and left, animating the soldiers, and disposing 

 his battalions in order of battle ; seated in the same howdah 

 were two beautiful female slaves, one administered wine, the other 

 pan and beetle-nut to him. The battle which ensued is described as 



