Chach heard this discourse of the wazir Budhiman attentively, and what the wazir said, made an impression on his mind and produced comfort and joy in his heart. He praised him highly for his counsels and took his gladdening communication as a happy omen, and hastened to act accordingly. He sent trustworthy men to different directions and called upon the rulers of divisions to join him in his undertaking, which was to lead an army up to the limits of Hindustan, where it adjoined the country of the Tartars. Then, at an auspicious time, found out by astrologers after carefully consulting the stars, he gave marching orders. After doing many a day's journey and passing several stages, he arrived at the fortified town of Babiah,* which is situ­ated on the southern bank of the river Beas. The governor of that fort commenced hostilities with him. (But) after a great and bloody battle the ruler of Babiah fled, and threw himself into the fort, and Rai Chach was the victor. He made a halt there, (laying siege to the fort,) for some time, during which corn became scarce, and the cutting of crops, grass and firewood impossible. When the people in the fort were reduced to this strait, the ruler of the place, one night, after the world had put on the black g??ment of night, and the king of stars had gone behind the dark curtain of night, left that fort, and went to that of Iskandah, and encamped in the suburbs of that town. This fortified town, too, belonged to him, and it was stronger than the first. When he bivouaced on a meadow attached to the town, he sent some men to gather infor­mation from the enemy's camp. A spy soon came back and said that Chach had enterd into the fort of Bábiah and was staying there.

When Chach learnt that the ruler of Babiah had gone to the fort of Iskandah, he appointed an upright man out of the nobles of the country to be in charge of the fort, and himself started in the direction of Iskandah, and fixed his camp in the out­skirts of that town. Now, there was a brave chief in the fort of Iskandah, who had always been obedient and well disposed to Chach. He had great influence over the residents of the fort, both nobles and plebians, who always acted under his guidance and never went against his wishes. Chach sent a messenger to him, and offered to make him sole governor of the fort, and directed a royal order to be inscribed, containing a solemn promise to bestow the governorship on him, and also to hand over Bábiah to him, as soon as he killed Jetar (or Chitra), the king of Bábiah, or took him prisoner. The chief accepted the promise and the condition, and sent his son as a hostage to Chach. Then he took to visiting the ruler of Bábiah so frequently, that he was never prevented from going to his presence either by night or by day. All of a sudden, one night, finding a favourable opportunity, he killed king Jetar and sent his head to Chach. Rai Chach showed him great favour, and granted him a robe of honour, with many other presents, and ordered the castle to be entrusted to him as its governor. Then all the nobles and chiefs of the town came to his presence, and delivered into his treasury many rich offerings. The king honoured them by receiving them well, and giving them an audience. He instructed and enjoined them to look upon the brave chief as their governor, and to consider it their duty to obey him, and never to contravene his behests.

After settling the affairs of Iskandah, Rai Chach moved in the direction of Sikkah and Multan. In Multan, there was a prince by name Bachhera,* who was a near relation of Sahasi, and ruled over an extensive kingdom, and was a man of great ability. When he received the news of Chach's arrival, he collected a large army, and came to the banks of the Rávi. His nephew Sabhól (or Sahewal) was the governor of the fortífied town of Sikkah, opposite Multan, towards the east, and he with Bachhera's cousin Ajaisen advanced with overwhelming numbers to meet Chach. Chach stationed himself at a ford on the Beás, and remained there for three months, till the floods subsided and the water went down. He then selected a village a little above his encampment, where there was no obstruction, and crossing the river, came to the town of Sikkah and met Sabhol in battle. He then in­vested the fort for some days, and when (its defenders) were pressed hard, and several of their brave comrades were killed and numberless kafirs went to hell, Sabhol quietly withdrew and went to the fortified town of Multan, and stood on the bank of the Ravi, equipped with the weapons of war and ready to fight. Chach Rai took possession of the fort (of Sikkah), and killed 5,000 warlike men who were in it, and made the other residents of the town prisoners, and secured a large booty and a great number of slaves. Chach appointed the greatest of the nobles of the State to be emporarily in charge of the fort of Sikkah, and himself crossed over to Multan. There, the two armies met. King Bachhera came to the field with a numerous army, warlike elephants and brave soldiers, and confronted Chach There was a great deal of hard fighting, and there was much bloodshed on both sides. Then Bachhera sought the fort, and sent letters to the king of Kashmir, informing him about Chach. “Chach son of Seláij Brahman,” wrote he, “has become the king of Alor, and has come with a large army. He has taken absolute possession of several forts, and we are unable to oppose him. He has brought many impreg­nable fortresses under his command, and no ruler has been successful in fighting with him. He has (now) come as far as Multan. (In this emergency) it is due to your­self that you should assist us, and send an auxiliary force to the border.”

Before the messenger arrived at Kashmir, the king of that place had died, and his son, a minor, had succeeded to the throne. The ministers, the counsellors, the courtiers, the nobles and chief men of the State thought over the matter and gave the following politic reply to the above letter. “The king (Rái) of Kashmir has gone to his permanent abode, and his son is a child yet, of tender years, and an inexperienced prince. His own soldiery are rising in mutiny and revolt in different parts of his country; and the affairs of these parts should be first set straight. At such a juncture (therefore), we can­not afford to help you or furnish you with the means of assistance. You must help yourself, as best you can.”

When the messenger returned, and Bachhera received this news, be despaired of getting any aid from the king of Kashmir, and sued Rai Chach for peace, with solemn promises and covenants, and prayed for an assurance of protection in writing, in order that, quitting the fort in safety, he might proceed without being molested by any one, with all his followers, dependents, and adherents, to a place of refuge. Chach agreed to this proposal, and gave him the assurance of protection asked for. Bachhera (then) came out of the fort, and with his fol­lowers and dependents proceeded to the mountains of Kashmir. Chach occupied the fort, and became absolute master of the country.

When the fort of Multan was taken, Chach appointed a Thakur* as his lieutenant there, and he himself went to an idol temple, which stood in a retired and solitary place, prostrated himself before the idol, offered sacrifices, and then proceeded on his forward journey. The govenors of Brahmapur, Karúr and Ashahar paid their homage to him, and from these places he came to the borders of Kíh (or Kumba) and Kashmir. During the whole of this journey, no king opposed him or put any obstacle or impediment in his way. So true is it that, whenever the Great King (of the Universe) makes a man great, He makes all his diffi­cult undertakings easy for him and gratifies all his desires. Every place where he arrived surrendered to him, and (thus victorious) he reached the fort of Sha-kalhar, higher up the town of Kíh (or Kumba), which is said to be the boundary of Kashmir, and where he stayed for a month. (During that period), some of the rulers of the surrounding region were coerced into submission, while others voluntarily paid homage to him and tendered their allegiance. He imposed definitive compacts on the nobles and rulers of those parts, and the stability of the kingdom was completely secured. He then ordered two young plants to be brought; one a maisir, or white pop­lar, and the other a deodar, or fir tree. He planted both of them on the boundary of Kashmir upon the banks of a stream called the Panj Máhiyát,* which is close to the hills of Kashmir, and takes its origin from the springs of that mountainous region. He remained there till the branches of the two trees interspersed with each other. Then he bade farewell to the spot, and declared: “This is the boundary line between us and the Rai of Kashmir, and there will be no passage beyond it.”

The recorder of this conquest states that, when the eastern boundary was fixed, Chach returned from there and came to the capital city of Alór. He stayed there for a period of one year, and rested from the fatigues of the journey, and his chiefs collected a large num­ber of the appliances and weapons of war. Then he told the wazir: “My heart is free from anxiety in regard to the eastern boundary; now we ought to acquaint ourselves with the south.” The wazir said: “Indeed, one of the best habits of kings is that they should constantly enquire about the affairs of their country. It is possible that, owing to your long absence in the upper divisions, the nobles and rulers of those (southern) parts may have a haughty notion in their heads that, after Rai Sahasi, there is no one to exact revenue from them. Truly transgression and disorder have found their way there.”

Then, in an auspicious hour, Chach started for the fortified towns of Mudapur (or Budhápur) and Siwistán. In the fort of Siwistan, there was a governor whose name was Mattah. Chach, with a firm resolution, crossed the waters of the Mehrán at a village called Wahtáet (or Diháyat), which forms the boundary between Sammah and Alor. From there, he proceeded towards Budhiah. The ruler of this latter place, at that time, was Basar Kotad son of Bandar Kóbhkó, and his capital town was Kákáráj. The natives of those parts called it Siwís (or Sawis). Chach marched against them and conquered the fort of Siwis. Kátah (or Kaba) son of Kákah came forth and asked protection for his father* and his followers. They imposed a tribute upon themselves and they all submitted.