A passage in the Táríkh-i Alfí, which speaks of Kusdár being “near the dominions of Násiru-d dín Subuktigin,”* would seem to imply that Kusdár was a city of India, and it is so called by Abú-l Fidá and Kazwíní. The compiler of the Táríkh-i Alfí copies the whole of his narrative, with only a few verbal alterations, from the Rauzatu-s Safá, but the first clause is an addition of his own, from which it appears that Kusdár was by him thought to be the first city conquered in India; but as it was so remote from Jaipál's possessions, it does not seem probable that its capture could have inspired him with such fear for his own safety as the text represents, nor is it proper at any period to place the borders of India so far to the west.* The last instance of its being mentioned as a portion of India is where, in the second part of the Táj'u-l Ma-ásir, it is said to have been included in the dominion of Shamsu-d dín after his capture of Bhakkar. The name of this town is so differently spelt by different authors that it is not often easy to recognize it in its various disguises. Its position is sufficiently indicated by the Táríkh-i Yamíní,* which, speaking of a period subsequent to that noticed in the text, tells us that when Mahmúd thought it necessary to chastise the Governor of Kusdár, because he would not pay his tribute, he gave out that he was going on an expedition to Hirát, and had marched as far as Bust on that route, in order to disguise his intention, when he suddenly turned off towards Kusdár, and came so unexpectedly upon it, that the rebellious Governor came out and supplicated for pardon, and was reinstated after paying a considerable fine, as a penalty for his disobedience.
Kusdár lies to the south of Bust, and is the present Khuzdar of our maps, the capital of Jhálawán in Bilúchistán.* It is spelt both <arabic> and <arabic>, according to Abú-l Fidá, but both he and Sádik Isfahání prefer the former. The latter, however, is the most usual mode of spelling it.
Von Hammer* says that Wilken is correct in writing it Kasdár, but this is by no means authorized by either of the two Geographers mentioned above. Sádik Isfahání* spells it Kisdár, and Abú-l Fidá* Kusdár, and to his authority we must defer, as he is so very careful in specifying the vowel-points. Briggs calls it in one place Kandahar, in another Khoozdar.* The Nubian Geographer calls it Kardán Fardán,* and Kazwíní Kasrán Kasrán.* M. Petis de la Croix calls it Custar, and M. Silvestre de Sacy Cosdar.*
When Ibn Haukal visited the valley of Sind, he found Kusdár under a separate government, and during the whole period of Arab occupation it was considered a place of importance. He describes it as a city and district between Túrán and Sind. Kusdar is frequently mentioned by Biládurí.* He quotes an Arabic poet, who thus rapturously speaks of its merits.
“Almonder has descended into his tomb at Kusdár, deprived of all commerce with people endowed with reason.
“What a beautiful country is Kusdár! how distinguished its inhabitants! and how illustrious both for his worldly policy as well as his religious duties was the man who now lies buried in its soil!”*