are extremely expert, and are in general excellent marksmen. It carries a larger ball than an European musket, and to a greater distance; and is often employed by them with success, before the enemy be near enough to charge them: but once fired, it is seldom loaded again, recourse being then immediately had to the spear or sabre. In the field, as formerly with the Mahrattas, none but the officers of the highest rank, have tents, which being extremely small, may be struck and transported with quickness and facility. cold weather the soldier wraps himself, during the night, in a kind of coarse blanket; which, when he marches, serves as a saddlecloth. Their horses were greatly superior to those in any other part of Hindustan, but internal contests and warfare having occasioned the care and encouragement formerly given to the breed, to be neglected, it has consequently declined.*

In

* See Sketches of the Sikhs, by General Malcolm, and Sketches of the Hindus, by the author of this Es

Mr. Franklin, in his history of Shaw Allum, states the united force of the Sikhs, in cavalry, in 1794, to be 248,000; but General Malcolm, who was in the Panjab, in 1805, computed it then not to exceed 100,000.

The established faith of the Sikhs is pure deism; which, as observed in a former chapter, is unquestionably the fundamental principle of the Hindu faith: for, though it appears that in remote times, as now, veneration was paid to the sun and water, yet it is evident that the Hindūs ever regarded these, only as things placed in the general system of the universe by the Creator.* Nanac, therefore, like Buddha, ap

say, vol. ii. pp. 248 et seq.; to which may be added, communications made to the author, by Mr. Stuart and the late Colonel Polier.

"Veneration for the elements, but especially fire and water, seems to have been common to all the ancient eastern nations. The Medes and Persians considered fire and water as the only true images of the divinity; and it is evident, that the Hindus, if they do not now worship fire, hold it in religious respect. Every

pears rather in the character of a reformer than a founder of a religion; he wished to

day at sun-rise the priests go to some river, or to the tanks of their temples, to perform the Sandivancy, or worship to Brahm, the Supreme. After having washed themselves, taking water in their right hand, they throw it into the air before and behind them, invoking the Deity, and singing forth thanksgiving and praise. They then throw some towards the sun, expressing their gratitude for his having again appeared to dispel the darkness of the night.

Lucian says, that the Indians offered adoration to the sun, turning themselves towards the east; and Philostratus observes, that they addressed prayers to him in the morning, to favour the cultivation of the earth; and in the evening, not to abandon them, but return again in the morning.

Father Bouchet says, that "He who performs the Ekiam should, every morning and evening, put a piece of wood into the fire that is employed for that sacrifice, and take care to prevent it from being extinguished."

Dr. Wilkins informs us, that the Brahmins are enjoined to light up a fire at certain times, which must be produced by the friction of two pieces of wood of a particular kind; and that with the fire thus procured, their sacrifices are burnt, the nuptial altar flames, and the funeral pile is kindled.

In the Heetopades it is said: "Fire is the superior

He

bring back the Hindus to the purity of their primitive doctrines, and correct the abuses that had been introduced into them. wished, if it were possible, to engage all mankind to embrace the same faith, and for the short time they have to remain in this world, to live in peace with each other. In order to conciliate the Hindus and Mohammedans, and induce them more readily to adopt his tenets, he shewed a certain complacency for the usages of both.

The cow race is considered with as much sacred regard by the Sikhs as by the Hindūs; and we may presume that the Hindū law which prescribes this, was preserved by Nanac for the same reason, for which certainly it was ordained, viz. the extreme utility of the animal. Milk, variously prepared, and butter, especially when melted

of the Brachmans; the Brachman is the superior of the tribes; the husband is the superior of women; but the stranger is the superior of all."-Sketches of the Hindūs, by the Author of this Essay, vol. i. p. 232, ci seq.

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and refined into what is termed Ghee,* are universally used by all Hindūs, but especially by those to whom animal food is forbidden. The ox is the chief beast of burthen throughout India, and the only one employed in tillage. Nanac, though a Hindū by birth, and originally of the Brahminical religion, seems to have been equally well acquainted with the Koran as the Vedas, and to have approved many things contained in both: but, while he allowed the Hindus and Mohammedans to retain such usages as did not materially affect his own doctrines, he boldly opposes their errors. He speaks of Mohammed and his successors without acrimony, but reprobates their attempts to propagate their religion by violence: "Put on Put on armour (says he) that will hurt no one; let thy coat of mail be that of reason, and convert

* The Ghee may be preserved a considerable time without injury, and is used by Europeans and Mohammedans as well as Hindus, for culinary purposes, as butter is in Europe.