HISTORIANS OF SIND.
This work contains as its name implies, an account of the first conquests of the Arabs in Syria, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, Armenia, Transoxiana, Africa, Spain and Sind. It is one of the earliest Arabic chronicles; for Tabarí, though he wrote at Baghdad, and did not compose his work till afterwards, was evidently not acquainted with this author, since he omits much that Biládurí has mentioned. It brings down the histoiy of events to the close of the reign of Mu’tasim, A.H. 227, A.D. 842. Wákidí, who is quoted by Biládurí, also wrote a book of “Conquests,” and amongst them a “Conquest of Sind,” which Dr. Sprenger mentions that he has seen quoted by Nuwairí at folio 103 of the large copy of Leyden. Copies of his other Futúh are very common; and much passes under his name which was never written by him, as in the instance of the work translated by Ockley; but his Futúhu-s Sind is rare. Nuwairí mentions also another author of Indian history, folio 795,—Al Husain bin Yazíd us Siráfí. We find also other authors on Sindian invasions quoted as existing at the early period of the Arabian conquests.
Biládurí does not himself appear to have visited Sind, but quotes the authors on whom he relied for information. Thus we have mention of Abú-l Hassan ’Ali bin Muhammad Al Madaíní, with whom he had verbal communication. This author, who died A.H. 840 (1436 A.D.), at the advanced age of ninety-three, composed, amongst other works, Al Mughází wau-s Siyár, “Wars and Marches,” which contained a detailed account of the expeditions of the Musulmáns in Khurásán and on the Indus. Mansúr bin Hatím is also mentioned as an author on Sindian History, with whom, as well as with Al Madáiní, Biládurí had held personal intercourse. Another author quoted by Biládurí is Ibnu-l Kalbí.
Besides the Futúhu-l buldán, our author wrote another work on cosmography, with a description of the inhabited earth entitled Kitábu-l buldán, the “Book of Countries,” which is in the Library of the British Museum. (Bibl. Rich. No. 7496). He
