AL BILA′DURI′.
then sent an ambassador to Dáhir to demand their release, but Dáhir replied, “They are pirates who have captured these women, and over them I have no authority.” Then Hajjáj. sent ’Ubaidu-llah, son of Nabhán, against Debal. ’Ubaidu-llah being killed, Hajjáj wrote to Budail, son of Tahfa, of the tribe of Bajalí, who was at ’Umán, directing him to proceed to Debal. When he arrived there his horse took fright (and threw him), and the enemy surrounded him and killed him. Some authors say he was killed by the Jats of Budha.
The Isle of Rubies is so denominated because of the beauty of the women.
Afterwards, Hajjáj, during the Khiláfat of Walid, son of ’Abdu-l malik, appointed Muhammad, son of Kásim, son of Muhammad, son of Hakím, son of Abú ’Ukail to command on the Sindian frontier. Muhammad was in Fárs when the order arrived, and had previously received instructions to go to Rai.[1] Abú-l Aswad Jahm, son of Zahru-l Ju’fí, was at the head of the advanced guard, and he was ordered to return to Muhammad, and he joined him on the borders of Sind. Hajjáj ordered six thousand Syrian warriors to attend Muhammad, and others besides. He was provided with all he could require, without omitting even thread and needles. He had leave to remain at Shíráz until all the men who were to accompany him had assembled, and all the preparations had been duly made. Hajjáj had some dressed cotton saturated with strong vinegar, and then dried it in the shade, and said, “When you arrive in Sind, if you find the vinegar scarce, soak the cotton in water, and with the water you can cook your food and season your dishes as you wish.” Some authors say, that when Muhammad arrived on the frontiers, he wrote to complain of the scarcity of vinegar, and this was the reason which induced Hajjáj to send cotton soaked in vinegar.
Then Muhammad, son of Kásim went to Makrán, and remained there some time. He then went to Kannazbúr and took it, and then to Armáíl, which he also took. Muhammad, son of Hárún, son of Zará’, went to meet him, and joined him, but he died near Armáíl at Kásim’s side, and was buried at Kambal.[2]
