234 H. G. Raverty —The Mihrdn of Sind and its Tributaries. [No. 4, 
Siw-istan, instead of having to return to Nirun for that purpose. He found 
it impossible, however, to get to Bahman-abad from thence for various 
reasons, as related in the Ohach Namah ; for he had previously despatched 
his battering rams up the Sind Sagar towards Nirun, on the west side 
of the estuary of which, at the distance of about six miles, Bahman-abad 
was situated, as stated by the Balazari, who subsequently visited it. 
When we see the vast changes which a single year brings about in the 
courses of the rivers of these parts, we can form some idea of the changes 
which must have occurred in two hundred; although there are some 
who expect to find on its banks, and actually presume to identify, places 
mentioned above two thousand two hundred years ago, and suppose the 
rivers to be running in the same channels, and in much the same 
positions, as the Greeks found them. 
The Balazari takes us, at once to Sadusan or Siw-istan, and states 
that it capitulated, which so far is correct; but another work, the Jami’- 
ut-Tawarikh, says, that, “ the fortress of Salim 186 was first captured, and 
then Sadusan or Siw-istan surrendered. Its affairs having been disposed 
of, and an ’Arab officer left in charge of it, Muhammad, son of Kasim, pre¬ 
pared to cross to the east side of the Mihran by a bridge of boats which 
he had caused to be constructed. 187 But the writers do not mention the 
186 The Sahban of the Balazari, and Sisam of the Ohach Namah. 
1 87 Some considerable time elapsed before Muhammad could cross the Mihran. 
After the capitulation of Siw-istan, he, leaving a Commissioner there with a small 
force, moved with his army against Sisam, and reached a place called Nidhahah 
[ ano ^ er Mg. —Nidhan] on the banks of the Kunbh. The chief 
priests of the Budh there, who traced their lineage from Ikranah or Akranah on the 
Gang, which they call A-dwand Bihar (See “ Tabakat-i-Nasiri ” page 491, and Ap¬ 
pendix D, page xxvi) incited the Ranas of the Jats of Budhiyah, and Kakah, son of 
Kotal, to make a night attack on the ’Arab camp. They made the attempt, Kakah 
sending a thousand men with them, but it did not succeed ; and, soon after, Kakah 
submitted, and subsequently, betrayed his countrymen. After this affair Muham¬ 
mad appeared before the fort of Sisam and invested it for two days ; the infidels 
were defeated, and the fort captured. Bajhra, son of OKandar, and uncle’s son of 
Dalxir, with Rawats and Thakurs, who were his dependents and followers, there fell, 
along with Bajhra; while others fled to Upper-most Budhiyah \_j* ], and 
some to the fort of Bhatlur ], between Saluj and Kanda’il. 
About this time Muhammad received orders from Amir Hajjaj, saying, that it 
was necessary for him to leave other places alone, and to return to Nirun, and make 
arrangements for crossing the Mihran and reducing Dahir, and when that was 
effected, the strongholds and provinces would naturally fall into his hands. Muham¬ 
mad accordingly returned towards Nirun, and, on his way, happened to halt “near 
the fortress situated on the hill ( "koh ) of Nirun, adjacent to which was a lake,” the 
praises of which he gives in glowing terms. Without doubt, this lake is that called 
the Sonhari Dhand, and the ruins of the fort are on the north side of it. The Jam, 
