50 H. G. Raverty— The Invention of Chess and Backgammon. [No. 1, 
kings of Sind, wlio fell in battle fighting against the ’Arabs, when 
they subdued that territory in 94 H.—712-13 A.D.—, was also called 
Dahir), was the inventor of the game. Two reasons are given why it 
was invented. One is, and apparently the most authentic one, that 
among the ancient rulers of Sind, Rai Bhalit, 1 by some called Rai 
Baghil, who was very warlike, and who was never contented unless 
leading his troops against some one, and carrying on wars against his 
neighbours, at last became afflicted with some painful disorder which 
precluded him from sitting a horse, or on an elephant; and as he was 
passionately fond of military operations, and “ setting squadrons on the 
field,” he assembled together the sages, and all the most sagacious and 
ingenious persons of his court and of Sind, and addressed them, 
saving : “ As you are all aware that I am afflicted with this complaint, 
I desire that you would devise some contrivance, whereby, without 
being obliged to sit on horse-back or on an elephant, I may still be able 
to occupy myself in (the semblance of) warfare ; so that I may divert 
my thoughts from brooding over this disorder afflicting me, and thereby 
obtain some relief.” 
Salisili (Sahasi), otherwise Laj-Laj, son of Dahir, then came 
forward, and having made his obeisance, represented, saying : “ I have 
in my possession an expedient whereby this difficulty may be solved 
and remedied, and the Rai obtain the alleviation he seeks.” Thus 
saying, he arose, and having gone to his own dwelling, he soon returned, 
bringing along with him the game of chess complete, a cloth to play it 
upon, and the chess-men, all of which he had invented. The other wise 
men there assembled greatly applauded Sahsih for his invention, and 
considered that nard or backgammon was not to be compared with it; 
while Rai Bhalit, was so transported with delight, that he declared to 
Sahsih, saying: “ Demand of me, O sage whatever thou mayest 
desire, and I will grant it unto thee.” 
Sahsih, thanking the king, replied : “ If the Rai shall be pleased to 
grant what I ask for, well and good, otherwise it is as he may please to 
command. I merely ask that a single grain of wheat may be placed on 
the first square of the chess-cloth, and doubled every time on each 
1 Al-Mas’udl who wrote the “ Muruj-uz Zahab wa Ma’adln-ul—Janahir—” 
“ Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems”—and described the state of the countries 
of the east and the west, about 332-33 H. (945 A.D.), in his 7th Chapter, records, 
that Dab-Shalim, one of the kings of Sind, who wrote the famous book, “ Kalilah 
and Darnnah,” was succeeded by another king named Bhalit, who reigned 80 years ; 
and other winters, including the “ Gardaizi,” state that, in his time, the book in 
question, and the game of chess and the means of playing it, were despatched to 
Nuh-shirwan, as mentioned farther on. 
