1 WpSTgj.
2 HISTORY Of THE SIKHS. 103
3 alone in the world, as he feelingly
4 describes himself; and foteseeing, no doubt; that
5 his followers might again desert him in time of
6 need, or when adverse fortune should render him
7 helpless, he resolved to desist from his warlike
8 career, and leave to his successors the task of
9 completing the conquests which he had begun;
10 satisfied that he had secured materials for such a
11 purpose in the rclrffmation of the people.
12 The outline of ©ovind’s exploits, is derived from
13 Mussulman historians; but the Gooroo himself
14 relates many particulars not contained in their
15 works. It appears, from his own account, that he
16 was born at Patna, when his father went there
17 from Delhi to avoid the continued resentment
18 of Ram Kao. When deserted by his followers,
19 Govind said, 4 * The man who does this (deserts
20 his Gooroo) shall have neither child nor-offspring.
21 His aged parents shall die in grief and sorrow, and
22 he shall perish like a dog, and be thrown into Hell
23 to lament.” The two sons of Govind left with him
24 after the flight of his mother with his two younger
25 ones, appear to have been brave men; Ajeet Singh,
26 especially. It is recorded of Ajeet, that when an
27 insulting message was brought to his father, from
28 the Mussulman camp, “ The youth seized his ci-
29 ineter, and addressing the messenger, exclaimed,
30 * If you utter another word, I will humble your
31 pride ; I will smite your head from your body, and
32 cut you to pieces, for daring to speak such lan¬
33 guage before our chief.’ 'The blood of the envoy
34 isfortune,