Page images
PDF
EPUB

of in the province of Dehly, obliged those who had settled in Sirhind, to submit and pay tribute, but who, in consequence of his unsuccessful war with the English, again recovered their independence.

The countries now possessed by the Sikhs, are bounded on the west by the Indus; on the north by the chain of mountains that extend from that river under Cashmire, towards Gungowtry; on the N. E. and E. by the possessions of the mountaineer Rajahs of Jammu, Nadon, and Srinagur, and by the Jumnah; and southward, by the possessions of the English, by the sandy deserts of Jesalmir and Hansaya Hisar, and by the northern borders of Sindy, at the city of Backar, on the Indus. Many parts of their territories, but particularly the Panjab, are remarkably fertile, producing wheat, barley, rice, and various other grain. Grapes, and other fruits, are in the greatest plenty; and in the tract between the Indus and Behut, are some extensive valuable mines of rock-salt.

The word Panjab is a compound of the

words Panj, five, and ab, water, intending thereby to express a country intersected, or watered by five rivers. Those rivers are the Behut, named also Jhylum, the Chunaub, the Rauvy, the Bheyah, and the Setlege: but besides these five great rivers, it is also watered by several inferior streams. These rivers are not only one of the causes of the great fertility of the Panjab, but for several months of the year almost render it secure against invasion, by the difficulties which they oppose to the progress of armies during the rainy season, when they generally overflow their banks and inundate the neighbouring fields. Lahore, the capital of the Panjab, is situated on the Rauvy, a noble river, having a navigable communication with the Indus and all its various branches.* Lahore is supposed to be the spot where the Bucephalia of Alexander stood. It was the principal place of residence, or capital of the early Mohammedan invaders of Hin

* Rennell.

dūstan. An avenue of shady trees once extended the whole of the way from thence to Agra, a distance of about five hundred English miles.*

All the descendants of the followers of

*Remains of such avenues are to be met with in different parts of India. They were planted and maintained by the munificence of princes and nobles, not only to ornament their countries, but also for utility. By their shade, travellers were protected from the scorching rays of the sun, and at certain distances found seats to repose themselves. Along the roads also, choultries, or public buildings, are to be found, into which all, of whatever country, or faith, may freely enter, and lodge without expense. Many of those were erected and endowed by the Hindu princes of the country, and many by rich individuals, and not unfrequently in consequence of some pious vow. A Brahmin of inferior order generally resides near the choultry, who furnishes the needy traveller with a portion of rice, and fuel to prepare it. It is not an uncommon practice also, in the southern parts of India, in the extreme hot season, for rich persons to cause numerous intermediate temporary choultries to be erected, which are constructed with timbers, covered with the broad leaves of the palm tree, and where persons constantly attend to furnish Congi, or rice-water, ready prepared, to assuage the thirst of those who may chuse to take it.

Guru Govind, are soldiers, and distinguished by the name of Singh, lion; the others are now called merely Sikhs, without Singh being added. The Sikhs may shave their beards and cut off their hair; but those who bear the title of Singh, carefully preserve both. The Singh may eat all animal food, except the cow-race, but the others observe almost the same restrictions in their diet as the Hindus.

The inhabitants of the country situated between the Jumna and Setlege,*

are

*"On the 25th April, I crossed the Setlege. This river seems to have its source in the hills bearing from this about north-east, and flows in a south-westerly direction, through a fine, open, champaign country. Its banks are very low, and it bears the appearance of a fine canal running in two channels, the first fordable, and in breadth about one hundred yards across, and the second, three hundred and fifty; the water is deep but not rapid. There are twenty boats at the ghaut, of rude construction, but well adapted for crossing artillery and cavalry, in one of which both my elephants crossed with ease. They are each capable of containing twenty horses, the men ride into them at once, without dismounting; they resemble in figure an oblong square, with a prow at one

named Málawá Singhs. Sirhind was once the capital of this country, but it is now almost in ruins, owing chiefly to the destructive ravages of Banda,* who not only caused the mosques, but also all the other public buildings, and even palaces, of that once flourishing town, to be demolished. The sacred Seraswati, for which the Sikhs have the highest veneration, flows through this province, whose principal towns now are Patiala and T'hánesur.

The country between the Setlege and the Beyah, is called Jalendra Beit, or Ja

end. The river, during the rains, is full one and a half mile broad. The distance from the Jumna to the Setlege is six stages, being sixty of their coss, each measuring 2,600 ordinary paces.”—Tour to Lahore, by an Officer of the Bengal Army. As. Ann. Register, vol. xi. p. 426.

* See p. 289, 290.

+ "On the 30th April, I crossed the Beyah, on the same kind of boats as at the Setlege. The Beyah flows in two branches, the waters of which are deep but not rapid: its western banks are high, and its breadth cannot be less, in rainy seasons, than one mile and a half.” -Tour to Lahore.

« PreviousContinue »