1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 85
2 they no doubt preferred returning to those two
3 places, and which they were allowed to do. On the
4 line of march in the plains of India, the Goorkhas
5 are unable to take the long stride of the Hindoo
6 and Mussulman soldier, but for energy, bravery,
7 and a love of fighting they are a match for any
8 Native troops, and look on the latter as even
9 inferior to them. Their habits are more congenial 1): ore
10 to those of the European soldier, with whom they Bain te
11 prefer to associate ; and on joining the Army of the *ldiers.
12 Sutlej, the Sirmoor battalion, it is said, requested -
13 to be brigaded with the Ist European light infantry,
14 and accordingly joined the 4th brigade before the
15 battle of Sobraon, where their gallant conduct
16 elicited the admiration of the Commander-in-chief,
17 who resolved to encourage them by every means
18 in his power, by raising new hill corps, and increas-
19 ing their allowances, so as to place them on an
20 equal footing with those of the line.
21 We have probably given too high an estimate of Difficulty of
22 the British force, and too small a one of the Sikh seit nets
23 when prepared to oppose each other on the 21st alarsies
24 December at Feerozshuhur; but a common fault
25 in estimating the results of a victory is for each
26 side to underrate its own strength, if beaten, and,
27 from the same motives, to overrate that of the vic-
28 torious army. This false estimate has pervaded
29 the records of all warfare, ancient and modern; so
30 that it is impossible to arrive at anything approach-
31 ing a correct idea of numbers from written accounts.
32 If this be difficult as regards European warfare, the