1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 79
2 have invariably made their threats after the Dusse-
3 rah at the beginning of the cold weather. One
4 reason for their overlooking such an advantage,
5 and of not acting on it, may doubtless be attributed Reasons of the
6 to the rise in the rivers of the Punjab, during the crossing in the
7 hot months, and particularly the Sutlej and Gharra : "* “°*""™™
8 the latter river, in which are situated the principal
9 ghauts of Hurreckee, Koonda, and Huggur, would
10 then be impassable to them by means of a bridge
11 of boats, and this is probably the chief cause that
12 has operated in restraining them from invading the
13 British territories, during a season of the year when
14 a European force could not be brought into the
15 field in tents without its certain destruction from
16 the causes already mentioned. It may be that the
17 Sikhs themselves, who are notorious for their lazi-
18 ness and apathy, are averse to exertion at the
19 hottest period of the year; and requiring stimulus
20 have delayed warfare until the Dusserah, when
21 their sluggish spirits appear to be roused to war,
22 discord, and murder. ‘In Runject Singh, they had
23 an example of making their hostile preparations
24 at the commencement of the cold months.
25 Another curious feature in the present campaign,
26 particularly at its commencement, when regiments
27 were marching to join the army, was that no moles- British regi-
28 tation or annoyance was offered to our troops on Pens we
29 the road, though alarms were often given of the ae the
30 Sikh horsemen being in the neighbourhood; and
31 there is some reason to suppose that they hung