306 Description of Sindk [April, 



account of the battle which there took place, exceeds the power of tongue 

 to relate ; in two encounters the infidels were victorious ; the third time 

 victory was declared in favour of the faithful, and the infidels fled. 

 Mahommed Bin Kassim having conquered the fort of Seciistan, 

 settled the affairs of the surrounding country, and sent a deputy to 

 Tuttah putting the affairs of that place and Neirunkote into his hands. 



It is related, that when Mahommed Bin Kassim, arrived in the 

 neighbourhood of Seciistan, the men of Chuneh sent a spy into his 

 camp, who arrived during the time of the calling to prayers of the army 

 of the believers. On that occasion, the Mussulmen were formed in 

 lines for prayers, and Mahommed Bin Kassim acted as the preacher, 

 the faithful being collected round him, attending to his discourse. The 

 spy beheld this, and reported to the men of Chuneh, saying, " I swear 

 by God, that that tribe are so unanimous, that whatever enterprise they 

 undertake, there can be little doubt but they will conclude it." He also 

 told them how attentive and obedient they were to the advice of Mahom- 

 med Bin Kassim. On hearing these words, a desire arose in the minds 

 of the men of Chuneh, and they enlisted under the banners of Islamism : 

 they were the first inhabitants of Sindh, who became Muhammadans." 



After the arrangement of affairs in Seciistan, it was debated in the 

 army of the faithful, whether it should first attack Brahmanabad, or 

 the capital of the country Alor ; but Bin Kassim decided in favour of 

 the latter, for said he, " let us first reduce the capital and dethrone the 

 king, the other places will then fall into our hands." This was agreed 

 upon, and having passed the river opposite Talhatty, the army of the 

 faithful proceeded to Alor. Dahir on hearing this, prepared for battle. 

 The astrologers however told him that they had consulted the stars, and 

 learnt that his horoscope boded him bad fortune ; whilst the star of the 

 army of the Muhammadans, was in the ascendant. On this account, they 

 counselled him not to depart from the city, but to entrench himself with- 

 in its walls. Da'hir therefore sent a countless army from the city, who 

 arrived upon the banks of the waters of Gunjeri, the next day, Bin 

 Kassim in the place called Duffian, appointed Abdullah Bin 

 Ali' Su'kufi', to attack the enemy. He accordingly arrived oppo- 

 site the army of the infidels, in the place called Kullah Gunjeri, on 

 the bank of the river. They met and fought furiously ; the infidels were 

 worsted, and many of them killed, and some say, that the defeat of the 

 infidels on that day, was ascribed to an accident which befel their com- 

 - mander, whose horse threw him, and galloping amongst the ranks of the 

 soldiers, led them to believe that their chief was killed, whereupon they 

 fled. In short, Abdullah returned to Bin Kassim victorious, and 



