1 118 '
2 HISTORY OF THE SIKIXS.
3 The sirdarH
4 quarrel with
5 each oilier.
6 Ail remain in
7 peace, und har¬
8 mony at Urn-
9 ritsir.
10 The number of
11 independent
12 sirdars re¬
13 duced.
14 Independent
15 power of the
16 sirdars.
17 The Sikhs thus became a friendly nation, divided
18 into what were called Mlssuk,
19 This state of things could not, however, last
20 long ; and at length the different sirdars began to
21 quarrel among themselves for an extension of terri¬
22 tory. The hostilities consequent on such quarrels,
23 consisted in carrying off cattle and other property,
24 and the ryots themselves were often killed in the
25 struggles which ensued between two neighbouring
26 sirdars.
27 'But though they quarrelled among themselves, all
28 was peace and friendship when they met at the
29 holy tank of Umritsir. There each independent
30 sirdar had his fort or dwelling-house, with a bazaar
31 attached, for supplying his followers and retainers
32 with food and the other necessaries of life.
33 When thus collected at. Umritsir, no mark of
34 strife or discord was allowed ; all was harmony and
35 peace, while sitting and listening to the Gooroo
36 expounding the Giunth in the holy temple ; for the
37 beautifying of which, each sirdar contributed
38 liberally, according to his means.
39 W hen these sirdars or chiefs began first to por¬
40 tion out the Punjab amongst them, they were very
41 numerous; but after repeated contests, the country
42 became the property of a few of the most powerful,
43 who maintained their own independence, and gave
44 their aid in defence of the whole against any foreign
45 aggressor. The sirdar at the head of each Missul
46 was paramount in peace and war, though his de¬
47 pendents reserved to themselves the option of pro-