The reciters of stories and the authors of histories have related as follows. The town of Alór* was the capital city of Hind and Sind.* It was a town adorned with various kinds of royal buildings, villas, gardens, fountains, streams, meadows and trees (and was) situated on the bank of a river called the Mehrán.* In this beau­tiful and splendid city, there lived a king whose name was Sahiras son of Sáhasi Rai. This king had innumer­able riches and immense buried treasures. His justice was well known in the world, and his liberality and bra­very (were) widely spread. The limits of his dominions extended on the east to the boundary of Kashmir, on the west to Makran, on the south to the coast of the sea and Debal, and on the north to the mountains of Kurdan and Kíkánán.* He had appointed four Governors (Maliks) in his kingdom: one at Brahminabad; and the fort of Nerun and Debal, Luhánah, Lákhah, Sammah and the river were left under his management; another at the town of Siwis-tán; and Ladhia,* Chingán,* the skirts of the hills of Rojhán* up to the boundary of Makrán, were given into his charge; the third at the fort of Iskandah; and Báhíah, Stwárah, Jajhór,* and the supplementary territories of Dhanód were given in his possession; and the fourth at the town of Multan; and the towns of Sikkah, Karnd, Ishthar and Kíh up to the boundary of Kashmir were en­trusted to him. The king himself had his head-quarters in the city of Alór, retaining Kurdán, Kíkánán, and Bar-hamas directly under his sway* Each of these Gover­nors was called upon by the king to keep in readiness troops and arms, and accoutremeats for horses. He ordered them to protect the interests of the country and the people, to look after the repairs of the (State) build­ings, and to keep the feudal assignees and estate-holders happy. In his whole dominion, there was not a single refractory or rebellious head who perversely opposed the measures passed by him or (transgressed) the boundaries fixed by him.

As the great God willed it, all of a sudden an army of the king of Nímrúz* made an invasion on his country, and entered Kirmán. When King Sahiras* got this news, he issued from the fort of Ráoi* with his main army, with the steadfast purpose of meeting the enemy by ad­vanced marches. He soon came up to them and the battle commenced. After a number of brave soldiers and illus­trious warriors was slain on both sides, the people of Fars, placing full trust in the direction of the All Powerful God and resigning everything to him, made a vigorous assault. The army of Rai Sahiras, completely overpower­ed and overthrown, took to flight. Sahìras, however, to prevent ignominy, stood there fighting with the enemy till he was killed. The King of Fars returned to Nimruz, and Rai Sáhasi son of Rai Sahiras ascended the throne of his father and was confirmed in his kingdom. All the four governors who had been appointed by his father made obeisance to him, and behaved obediently and agreeably towards him. They surrendered their countries together, with their treasures to him, and did not attempt to swerve from their fealty. Owing to his excellent policy and majestic dignity, Rai Sáhasi brought the king­dom under his firm control. The subjeets and original residents of the country enjoyed much respect, and lived a happy life. He had a wazir, by name chamberlain Rám. Rám was well acquainted with the various depart­ments of knowledge, and his administration was in every way absolute and supreme, inasmuch as there was none to interfere in his work, or to oppose him. The Council of State was entirely committed to his care and wi??e policy.* Rai Sahiras had also a firm belief in his eloquence and good logic, and he (the Rai) never overstepped his counsel or suggestion.

Once, when the chamberlain Ram,* the Brahman wazir, had come to his office, a Brah­man came to visit him. He (that Brahman) began to praise (him) and speak highly of him in beautiful language. The chamberlain Ram asked him: “O Brahman, whence do you come and for what purpose have you taken the trouble of coming (here)” The Brahman replied “my name is Chach son of Seláij, Brahman My brother Jandab* and my father live in a temple in a rural place att ched to the town of Alór, and pray for Rai Sáhasi and the chamberlain Ram. It occurred to me that I should pay a visit to you; and as eloquence is the origin of good fortune and the solver of difficulties, I thought of showing you my readiness to serve you.” The chamberlain Rám said, “No doubt, (in the matter of) eloquence and rhetor??c, your speech is fluent enough, but are you acquainted with law and morals?” Chach replied: “I have all the four books of the Hindu religion on the tip of my tongue; if Your Excellency be pleased to give the word, I will recire some of those master-pieces of eloquence and rhetoric, on which I have been working so long. I shall thereby (also) show my sincerity and truthíulness.” While they were thus conversing with each other, some despatches were received for consultation and disposal, from the direction of Debal. The chamberlain gave those letters to him. Chach read them out in his very best manner, and wrote a reply in the most chosen words and in an excellent hand-writing. When Rám acquainted himself with what he had written, he greatly applauded Chach for his consummate wit and cleverness. He extended his patronage to him by respect­ing him greatly and giving him rich presents He told him: “I have many important affairs for disposal. As I am the secretary in attendance at the Royal palace and have to do my office work, I am so busy that I have hardly sufficieat time to discharge my duties properly. You will therefore be of some assistance to me.” Chach accepted the offer and entered on his duties. In a short time, he became prominent in the correspondence depart­ment of the Council.

One day, Rai Sáhasi came to the public audience hall, and the great men and chieftains of the city were all present there. Some letters from the district of Siwistan* having arrived, the Secretary Rám was called. But he had not yet come to the Council office; so Chach sent word, saying, “I am the Assistant of the Secretary Ram. If anything is to be written, I am ready to write it and to dispose of the work in hand.” King Sáhasi called him. Chach read out excellently the letters that had been received, and explained their purport with full details. He then wrote a reply in a sweet style and in a beautiful hand, and submitted the same to the king for perusal and approval. The king had a great liking for excellent penmanship. He went over the letter of Chach, and was much pleased with the style. He invested him with a robe of honour and ordered that he be confirmed in his post of Assistant Secretary.* When, (shortly afterwards,) the chamberlain Rám met the king in his palace, Rai Sáhasi asked him: “This assistant of yours is a very clever fellow; he is an eloquent speaker and a good writer. Whence have you brought him? Treat him kindly.” The chamberlain Rám said: “He is a son of Selaij Brahman, and is an honest, straightforward and experienced man.” When the cham­berlain Ram found the king favourably inclined towards Chach, he asked him to do the work of the Secretary, too, for him and to carry on the whole business of that office during his presence or absence. Thus Chach began to perform important business, and disposed of State affairs and political matters in a business-like manner. Every time that he had occasion to go into the presence of the king, the latter rewarded him and patronised him by giving him a dress of honour or some other present, and advised him to persevere (diligently) in that course of employment, telling him that, by means of such em­ployment, the affairs (of State) would be well transacted and he would be entitled to a higher post. In this fashion, the king went on encouraging him and giving him good hopes by making pleasant promises. (Eventually) as the great God willed it, the life of the chamberlain Ram cam-to its close and the hand of death tore the collar of his garment.

After this event, Rai Sáhasi called Chach to himself and conferred on him the office of Chamberlain and Secretary. Chach behaved towards the people with courtesy and kindness, so that (in a short time) he held firm sway over the whole kingdom and was obeyed by all. He was at one and the same time doing the work of Chamber­lain and Secretary in an excellent manner.

One day, the king Sahasi Rai was sitting in a private apartment of his palace with his queen Suhandí. This lady had great influence over the king and had lived happily with him. (Just then) the Chamberlain Chach came to the door of the palace. He sent a message to Rai Sahasi, through the private Chamberlain (who had the privilege of going to the interior of the private apart­ments), to the effect that Chach had come to the door of the palace on an important business, and wanted to relato to the king what had happened, and that if the king had leisure the whole matter would be haid before him. The king asked his queen to go behind the curtain as a stranger was coming. (Hearing this), the queen Suhandi observed: “So many inferior people and menials come in; if a Brahman comes in, what inclination am I likely to have towards him and why should I feel shy and conceal myself from him? May a thousand lives of mine be sacrificed to the dust of Sáhasi's feet!” It was usual with the king not to act against the wishes of that lady when­ever she pressed a point or insisted upon a thing; and often he was led away by her ar ifices and submitted to her cajoleries. So the king called Chach, who explained the State business that had brought him, and expressed himself on the subject very well.*