1 78 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 the murder of his father, concealing for a time the
3 object lie had in view, being no less than a thorough
4 reform iu the religion and manners of the Sikhs.
5 The ceremony of pahooldee is represented diffe¬
6 rently by different historians. Some describe the
7 ceremony as consisting in the feet being washed,
8 and the water employed for this purpose being
9 drunk ; but in none of the works of the Mussul¬
10 man authors is the slightest ground for such a
11 practice to be found; they all agree that the cere¬
12 mony described was the one employed by Govind
13 Singh.
14 Since the time of this great reformer, several
15 additional usages have been, added to the customs
16 of the Sikhs. It will be seen in the sequel; that
17 to a disguise in blue cloth, Govind was indebted
18 for his escape; and that colour is therefore es¬
19 teemed by Ukaiees, who wear turbans of blue.
20 Next to the worship of the Deity, ablution was
21 recommended by Nanuk, and the Sikhs were ac¬
22 customed to whsh the body daily; the head, arms,
23 and thighs were the parts to which water was'ap¬
24 plied, and the ablution was, therefore, named
25 “ punjiianish.” The thighs were covered, but the
26 legs below the knee were left bare. These pecu¬
27 liarities were observed by the-followers of Nanuk,
28 and still more rigidly enforced by Govind, who with
29 great judgment adhered to the leading principles of
30 Nanuk, though making many additions of his own ;
31 but what distinguishes Govind Singh from- the first
32 Gooroo, is the warlike character which he conferred
33 on the Sikhs.