1 would be concealed: mixing with the Chutrees, m*
2 <l warrior caste,they would now fight side by side
3 with men who formerly despised them. These-
4 were powerful inducements: and Govind had no
5 doubt learned from the Brahmin that these wore
6 the true means of gaining proselytes from the lower
7 orders of the Hindoos. On the other hand, it was
8 naturally to be expected, that the Brahmins and
9 Chutrees would refuse such a proposal, and. prefer
10 retaining the broad distinction ot caste, to mixing
11 with men whom they had been taught to view with
12 contempt.
13 vu Brahmins When the assembled crowd heard the words of
14 delerChiraV Govind, many of the Brahmins and Chutrees ac¬
15 cordingly rose, and said they would not obey the
16 orders of Nanuk or the Gooroos. They were,
17 therefore, allowed to depart to their homes; a few
18 only of the Chutree and Veisya castes became pro¬
19 selytes, and the great body of Govind’s followers
20 consisted of the lowest, or Soodurs. The number,
21 however, amounted to twenty thousand.
22 Next day, Govind collected his followers, and
23 ordered them to bring him a large earthe.rn vessel
24 filled with water.
25 His wife brought him five kinds' of sweets, viz.':—
26 treacle, red sugar, white sugar, candied sugar, and
27 honey; which were put into the water. Govind
28 was pleased with the present, and said the gift was
29 acceptable as coming from a woman of whom ail
30 are bom. “ My followers, the Khalsa,” added he,
31 “ will, therefore, be numerous and sweefc-tosigued.”