1892.] H. G. Raverfcy —The Mihran of Sind and its Tributaries. 
231 
events, so to say, considerably. Ahmad, son of Yahya-al-Balazari, 
author of the FurtJH-UL-BALADAN, previously quoted, is the earliest 
historian. 181 He brings down events to the year 227 H. (842 A. D.). 
He does not appear to have actually visited Sind; for his work is a 
general history of the conquests of the ’Arabs, but he quotes from 
persons who had been, and had served, in Sind; and be is repeatedly 
quoted by Al-Mas’udi and Ibn Haukal, both of whom afterwards visited 
it, and by others. He died in 279 H. (892-93 A. D.). It is strange 
that there is so little mention made in Tabari’s chronicle respecting the 
conquest of Sind. All he says is, that, “ during the IOiilafat of Walid, 
son of ’Abd-ul-Malik, many victories were gained ; and, among other 
parts, a portion of the territory of Hindustan was conquered by Muham- 
mad-i-Abu-l-Kasim,’’ and this is all. Sind he included in Hind or 
Hindustan. 
The Balazari says, that Muhammad, son of Kasim, advanced into 
Sind from Sijis-stan by way of Arma’il, 182 which was taken, and reached 
Debal or Dewal, the sea-port of Sind, and the nearest point from thence 
[Arma’il] on the sea-coast of Sind. Here there was a budh, the name 
given by the ’Arab writers to a Budhist temple where idols are wor¬ 
shipped, and which the name of the place was derived from. From this 
budh a large red flag waved from a tall staff, which was struck by one of 
the balistas of the ’Arabs, and knocked down. The place was taken by 
assault, after which Muhammad moved to Nirun or Nirun Kot, 183 which 
181 The CThach Namah, however, may be considered equally early, as it contains 
the accounts related by actual actors in the events recounted in it, handed down 
from sire to son. See note 185. 
182 This well known place in the history of Mnkran and Kirman, Elliot, in his 
“ Indian Historians ” invariably miscalls “ Annabel,” just as he miscalls Kanda’il 
“ Kanddbel ,” and “ Kandabhel,” in most places, but “ Kanddil ” in a few others. 
It is, apparently, what Masson calls “ Hormara .” 
183 The Cliach Namah says, that, after possessing himself of Debal, he despatched 
his balistas on boats which went up the river which they call the Sind Sagar [that 
is, the main branch of the Hakra or Mihran of Sind] towards Nirun Kot, but went 
himself with his army towards Sisam, and when he reached it, he received a reply 
to his announcement of the capture of Debal from Amir Hajjaj which was dated 
Rajab, 93 H. (May, 712 A. D.). 
An ’Arab who was present, quoted in the Chach Namah, states that Muhammad 
proceeded from Debal to the Hisar of Nirun, which was twenty-five farsangs 
(seventy-five miles) distant, and that on the seventh day he reached the neighbour¬ 
hood of Nirun, which was a grassy plain which they [the people] called Bala-har in 
the tract or district [ zamin ] of Ro’i or Ru’i. At that period, the Ab-i-Sihun and the 
Mihran, had not reached it; and the troops became much distressed for water, and 
began to complain. Muhammad having offered up prayers to Heaven for rain, it fell, 
and all the water-courses and reservoirs in that vicinity were filled. 
