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. THE FALL OF MULTAN 13 with glory. The infidels retreated in disorder into the town and Mohammad commenced the siege, but the provisions being exhausted, the Mussulmans were re- duced to eat asses. Then came a man who sued for quarter and pointed out to them an aqueduct, by which the inhabitants were supplied with drinking-water from the river of Basmad. It flowed within the city into a reservoir like a well, which they call talah or taldo. Mohammad destroyed the water-course, whereupon the inhabitants, oppressed with thirst, surrendered at dis- cretion. He massacred the men capable of bearing arms, but the children were taken captive, as well as the ministers of the temple, to the number of six thou- sand. The Mussulmans found much gold in a chamber ten cubits long by eight broad, and there was an aper- ture above, through which the gold was poured into the chamber, whence they call Multan " the Frontier of the House of Gold." The temple of Multan received rich presents and offerings, and the people of Sind re- sorted to it as a place of pilgrimage. They circum- ambulated it and shaved their heads and beards. They believed that the image in the temple was that of the prophet Job, the peace of God be upon him! Upon the death of Hajjaj in 95 A. H. (714 A. D.), Mohammad left Multan and returned to Alrur and Baghrur, which had previously been captured. He made donations to his men, and sent an army toward al-Bailaman, the inhabitants of which place surren- dered without any resistance. He made peace with the inhabitants of Surast, who are Meds, seafarers, and