244 
H. G. Raverty —The Mihrdn of Sind and its Tributaries. [No. 4, 
captured after Daliir’s defeat, and was close to the east bank of the 
western branch of the Mihran. It appears to refer to the Balirur of 
the Chach Namah. First, the people of Tawandari [the name is some¬ 
what doubtful. See the Samandur of the Kazwini, page 211, and Samand 
of the Istakhari, page 211] submitted to him, and he reached Basmad 
[not to be mistaken for Basmid nearer Multan near which the Mihran 
flowed] which also submitted, after which he appeared before the 
capital, Aror. This place was situated on a hill, and he had to besiege 
it for several months ; it finally capitulated on terms. 
Having effected these successes, Muhammad advanced to &CJ|, 190 
which was situated on this side, that is, on the south side or left 
bank, of the river Biah. 191 This was captured, and was in ruins when 
the author wrote. 192 After this Muhammad crossed the Biah, and 
the time occupied in the different operations as stated in the Ohach Namah, he conld 
scarcely have started for Aror before Rajab, 94 H., otherwise there is but four 
months and twenty-three days from the death of Dahir for the completion of opera¬ 
tions which it is said took upwards of ten months to accomplish, and consequently, 
there is an error somewhere. 
190 This word, being without points, might be mistaken for one word, but it is 
merely the Sindi proper name Sikah, with the ’Arabic prefix ‘ al,’ as distinctly 
shown in the Chach Namah. See note 192. 
191 This is incorrect. Sikah was close to the east bank of the Rawi, but Babiyah 
was on the left or south bank of the Biah, and Asal Kandah or Askandah was on 
the north of the Biah, as shown in the following note. 
192 Certain enthusiastic writers have supposed that the name of the Oxydracoe 
is derived from the name of U'chchh, which they also suppose was in existence two 
thousand two hundred years ago ; while some of those who labour under this sup¬ 
position call it by the incorrect names of Uja, TJch , and even Uk. The only 
doubts entertained on the subject, apparently, arise in the minds of more recent 
European writers because “ Arrian and Strabo seem to say,” that it [the town of 
the Oxydracce ] stood “ on the ivest bank of the Acesines [the Chin-ab]. 
U' chch h stands on the east bank of the Chin-ab and its tributaries now, but, in 
former days, and down to comparatively modern times, it stood on the west bank of 
the Biah, or Rud-i-Sind wo Hind of the old writers, and a little above its junction 
with the Sindhu or Ab-i-Sind; and, at the period in question, the Chin-ab and other 
Panj-ab rivers were tributaries of the Biah. The Greek accounts, however, show, 
that the country or town of the Oxydracae lay north of the Rawi, and in the Rachin- 
ab Do-abah, as shown farther on. 
Elliot (vol. 1, p. 109), quoting the “ Mujmalu-t Tawarikh,” on the division of 
Sind by the son of Kafand, one of the ancient kings, said to have been contemporary 
with Alexander the Great, states, that, “ One king [governor is meant] he established 
in ’ Askalandusa. Upon another he bestowed the country of Zor, to which Anj 
[Uch ?] is attached.” In a note, he says, “ It is written ■with two 
purely Arabic letters, ^ and (3 ? “ hut the name is generally accepted as 
’Askaland, or ’ A steal an dr a, and the termination usa has not been found elsewhere, 
[that is, in one MS. only]. May not the passage be read—He established one khm 
