THE HALF SMILEChach's appointment of Buddhist advisors. Chachnama's presentation
of ethics for a ruler and his diverse subjects is conveyed through the
political prowess and guidance of Sohnan Devi and Queen Ladi. Put
simply, Sohnan Devi charts the rise of power for Chach, and 11,adi ce-
ments the rule of Qasim.
The third episode concerns the daughters of Dahar and brings us
to the end of Muhammad bin Qasim, and to the end of Chachnama
itself. In the last section of the text, this episode is inconspicuously
titled "Muhammad Qasim Receives a Message from the Capital." To
fully comprehend the argument behind the narrative of Qasim's death,
we have to step back and see the entirety of the portrait of Muhammad
bin Qasim as sketched in Chachnama. The clearest assessment of
Qasim occurs halfway through the narrative, after he has conquered the
fort of Aror: "The people of the fort, noble and common, said, 'We had
heard of Muhammad Qasim's honesty, devotion, empathy, justice,
compassion, and forthrightness, and now we have seen it too.' "^13 These
traits are highlighted in various episodes: in Qasim's dealings with sol-
diers, with fort governors, with Dahar and his family, with nobles, and
with religious notables. Qasim is just, he is ethical, he is moral, he is
kind, and he is brave. In these characteristics, Qasim is akin to the
ideahubje.cthood of Chach. There is a critical difference, however: Qa-
sim's fealty to his political superiors, such as Hajjaj or the caliph. Again
and again, Qasim surrenders his own feelings and judgments to those
of his superiors. He is chastised by them for granting too many pardons,
for bestowing grants on local nobles and trusting their troops in his
armies, and for not inflicting higher taxes. Though he resists, he never
rebels, remaining steadfast in his deference to hierarchy. This is the
radical difference between Chach and Qasim, even though they are both
ideal archetypes in the text. Qasim is beholden to a corruptible center,
whereas Chach is driven by his own ethics. This is the radical differ-
ence explored at the end of the text, and the denouement lies in the
hands of two women who take revenge for their father's death.
When Qasim dethrones Dahar, his daughters are captured by the
army and are sent to the capital, Baghdad, in the hands of East African
slaves. Chachnama narrates that after the women are taken to. the
court of the caliph, they are placed in his harem. He asks that they be
brought to him after they have rested for a few days. They are then