1 ; rtwiST/fy
2 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
3 95
4 CHAPTER VI.
5 the death and character of GOVIND SINGH.
6 When the messenger reached Govind and de~ Receives the
7 livered the “royal firman,” the Gooroo kissed itSmpect
8 and placed it on his head; he treated the bearer
9 ofit with great distinction, and provided a house
10 for him. After reading the “finnan,” Govind
11 addressed the messenger as follows :—“ I am the
12 Emperor’s dependent; in no way do I disobey him,
13 and I have only one request to make, namely :
14 that he will allow me to make out a statement of
15 my numerous wrongs for his perusal, and if, after
16 this, it be the royal wish, I am ready to accompany
17 you.” It has been already mentioned, that Govind
18 bad a knowledge of the Persian language, and he
19 was besides a poet. He, therefore, composed a Oovind writes
20 poem in that language, occupying fourteen hundred X£h
21 stanzas. In this, he gave a full and glowing griev ®“ ccs -
22 account of the persecutions which he had suffered,
23 not only in his own person, but those of his father
24 and grandfather.