1 26
2 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
3 Prince of Glior, but unable to take the place, a
4 treaty was formed between him and Chusero.
5 Lahore was a second time besieged by Mahomed,
6 but with the same result; he therefore laid waste
7 the country with fire and sword, and built the fort
8 of Sealcote, which was, in its turn, besieged by
9 1 husero, but without success, Mahomed for the
10 third time advanced against Lahore, and became
11 master of it by treachery.
12 Lahore was thus transferred to the house of
13 Ghor.
14 When Mahomed Gori had taken Lahore, he
15 bestowed it on the Governor of Mooltan, and re¬
16 tired himself to Ghuzni.
17 It is needless for us, in this place, to follow the
18 history of the Punjab while under the Mussulman
19 dynasty.
20 The Sikhs, who inhabit the Punjab and hold
21 possession of the country, had their origin, like
22 other nations, in small beginnings; but unlike those
23 of Europe, instead of making conquest their first
24 object, the Sikhs began by uniting themselves into
25 a distinct religious sect, or offset from the Hindoos,
26 having religious tenets of their own, and obeying,
27 as their head, a teacher, or Gooroo.
28 Some native historians explain the word Gooroo
29 to be derived from Giroh, a crowd or assemblage
30 of people of different castes. But the more
31 general acceptation of the word ‘ Gooroo’ is that
32 significant of teacher, and the followers of this
33 teacher are named Sikhs or learners.