1892.] H. G. Raverty —The Mihran of Sind and its Tributaries. 237 
disease, and the months that elapsed in the mean time. Having effected 
to that part of the west bank of the Mihran which was opposite to Kawar [and] 
Jai-pur, and Mokah was sent to select a place for crossing. But Hajjaj required “ a 
map on paper, with the measures of the depth and breadth of the river, and the 
state of the banks for four fnrsangs up and down stream at the place proposed ” 
During this period, Dahir’s people had surprised Siw-istan, which had been left with 
but a few of his own ’Arab troops, and Muhammad had to detach 4,000 horse thither, 
and secure it. This is what the Balazari refers to in the text above, as though that 
was the first capture of Siw-istan. 
On hearing of Mokah’s proceedings, and of his going over to the Musalmans, 
Dahir now sent his son Jai Senha to the Bet, to prevent the ’Arabs crossing and 
holding it. Jai Senha came [down stream] with his troops, accompanied by boats, by 
the Kotlcah branch, to the banks of the Mihran, to the fort of the Bet opposite to 
Muhammad’s position. 
More than a month passed, want of food for themselves and their horses stared 
the ’Arabs in the face ; the horses fell ill, and such was the scarcity, that those which, 
became affected were killed and eaten. Boats were not forthcoming; and suspicion 
arose that Mokah was deceiving them. Hajjaj became angry at the delay, and com¬ 
manded that boats should be procured by whatever means attainable, and sent from 
his own stables 2,000 horses. In the mean time, provisions and forage began to be 
brought in, but great sickness [scurvy] prevailed, so much so, that Hajjaj had to 
send vinegar, which was done by repeatedly saturating carded cotton with vinegar 
and drying the cotton each time, and when sufficiently saturated, it was made into 
bales for facility of transmission. The cotton was to be soaked in water, and the 
vinegar solution given to the sick. Hajjaj further directed that the passage should 
be made at the Bet , wherever the Mihran was narrowest and the banks easy ; and, 
if there was an island or bank in the channel, it was to be made use of, and the 
crossing effected by degrees, constructing a bridge of boats for the purpose. 
Muhammad now broke up his camp, and marched into the district [or tract— 
earnin'] of Sagarah, belonging to the district of Jhim, and directed the boats to be 
brought, and planks as many as might be required. In the interim, the Wazir of 
Ba’i Dahir endeavoured to rouse him from his carelessness and neglect of his affairs ; 
and Muhammad, not desiring to be obstructed in the construction of the bridge of 
boats, and in crossing, detached 600 horse towards the fort of Ba gh rur (on the op¬ 
posite side) to attract the attention of Fuff, Dahir’s son, there stationed; also 500 
horse on the road to Akham [“Aghamanno” of Hughes, and “Augoomanoo” of 
maps, on the Puranah Dhorah, 25 miles S. E. of Haidarabad] to watch the territory 
of Kandarah [_ JUANS’. This is Elliot’s “ Gandava.” See also pages 166 and 362 of 
his work] ; while the Samanl in charge of Nirun (who had previously submitted to the 
’Arabs) was to take care that food and forage reached the army. Another 1,000 men 
were pushed forward to guard the road, while another body of 1,500 more, and Mokah, 
the Bisayah, Malik of the Bet, and the Thakurs of the Bhatis and the western 
[ ] Jats [this is the word read as “ Ghazni” by Elliot. See pages 167 and 507 
of his work], and th-e chief men of Sagarah, who have submitted, were stationed in 
the jazzrah of Bet” The author, probably, was not aware that both words are of 
the same signification, one being Persian and the other Hindi. 
As soon as Muhammad reached the Jhim passage, he went to examine where the 
ford was narrowest and least obstructed, and the banks suitable; and he came to a 
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