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CHACH-NÁMA.

153

násiks (Buddhists) and monks and promulgated their doctrines. He brought many people together with the sword, and made them return to his religion. He received several letters from the Chiefs of Hind.

Journey of Matta, Chief of Siwistán.

When Matta, chief of Siwistán, went to the king of Kanauj, the country of Hindustán was in a flourishing condition. Kanauj was under the rule of Síharas, son of Rásal.[1] Matta went to him and represented thus: "Chach, son of Síláij, is dead, and his brother Chandar, a monk (ráhib), has succeeded him. He is a devotee (násik), and his whole day is occupied in the study of his faith with other religious persons in the temple. It is easy to wrest the kingdom from him. If you take his territories and place them under my charge, I will pay a tribute, and send it to your treasury."

The answer of Síharas.

Síharas said to Matta, "Chach was a great king, and had an extensive territory under his sway. As he is dead, I will bring his possessions under my own rule, if I take them. They will form a great addition to my kingdom, and I will appoint you over one of their divisions." Síharas then sent his brother Barhás, son of Kasáís. The son of the daughter of the great Chach, who ruled over Kashmír and Ramal, also agreed to join him, and they proceeded with their armies till they reached the banks of the Hásí,[2] where they encamped. The agents and offices of Chandar, who were still in the fort of Deo, fled. The invaders took the place, and advanced on their journey till they arrived at Band Káhúya, where they halted for one month, and performed the worship of Budh. They sent a messenger with a letter to Chandar to induce him to come, make his submission, and sue for protection.

  1. [There are no names corresponding with these in the Genealogical tables of the Kanauj dynasty (Thomas' Prinsep II. 258.) General Cunningham is of opinion “that Síharas is prohahly the same as the Bhím Sen mentioned hy the Chinese as Ti-mo-si-no, King of Central India, in a.d. 692, and that the two names Síharas and Bhim Sen might easily he confounded when written in Persian letters.” This, however, is very hypothetical. It is not unlikely that the prince of some other and nearer place than the great Kanauj is really intended, especially as his army is represented as joining those of Kashmír and Ramal.]
  2. [“Hásbi” in B.]