AL BILA′DURI′.
forward a man who sued for quarter, and pointed out to them aa aqueduct, by which the inhabitants were supplied with drinking water from the river of Basmad. It flowed within the city into a reservoir like a well, which they call taláh.[1] Muhammad destroyed the water-course; upon which the inhabitants, oppressed with thirst, surrendered at discretion. He massacred the men capable of bearing arms, but the children were taken captive, as well as the ministers of the temple, to the number of six thousand. The Musulmáns found there much gold in a chamber ten cubits long by eight broad, and there was an aperture above, through which the gold was poured into the chamber. Hence they call Multán “the Frontier of the House of Gold,“ for farj means “a frontier.”[2] The temple (budd) of Multán received rich presents and offerings, and to it the people of Sind resorted as a place of pilgrimage. They circumambulated it, and shaved their heads and beards. They conceived that the image was that of the prophet Job,—God’s peace be on him!
We are told that Hajjáj caused a calculation to be made of the sums expended in fitting out this expedition of Muhammad Kasím, and the riches which resulted from it. He had spent sixty millions (of dirhams) and that which had been sent to him amounted to one hundred and twenty millions. He said—“We have appeased our anger, and avenged our injuries, and we have gained sixty millions of dirhams, as well as the head of Dahír. Hajjáj then died.[3] Upon learning this, Muhammad left Multán and returned to Alrúr and Baghrúr, which had been previously captured. He made donations to his men, and sent an army towards al-Bailamán, the inhabitants of which place surrendered without any resistance. He made peace with the inhabitants of Surast, with whom the men of Basea[4] are
- ↑ M. Reinaud observes that the pronoun does not indicate whether this native word applies to the canal or the reservoir. He conjectures, with some probability, that the word may be nálá, “stream,” but that word is not so pronounced at Multán. I prefer, therefore, táláb, táláo, “a tank, or reservoir.” [In Goeje’s edition the word is
.]
- ↑ When the Musulmáns arms extended to the mountains parallel with the course of the Indus, the kingdoms of Kábul and Sind were called Farján “the two frontiers”—Uylenbroek, Iracœ Persicœ Descriptio, p. 67.
- ↑ [In the year 95H., 714A.D.]
- ↑ [Budha.]
