1 &8 HISTORY. OF THE. SIKHS.
2 had visited his court, but left it doubtful if the Sikhs’
3 had physical strength for such exertion. 1t must be
4 honestly confessed, however, that the Sikh soldiery
5 have remarkable pedestrian powers, and these
6 have obtained for them the cognomen of “ iron
7 The Sikhs legs.” The distance between Lahore and Umritsir
8 celebrated for
9 walking. backwards and forwards, nearly sixty miles, is
10 often travelled over by a Sikh during a single
11 night.
12 Ranjeet Singh With a view of ascertaining our sentiments re-
13 ie eee garding the comparative merits of the Sikhs and
14 the Bith'sna Affghans, the Maharajah, after showing us the list
15 Atyue of his regular troops, inquired how many of the
16 troops of Dost Mohummud five and thirty thousand
17 of his were likely to vanquish? We replied, that
18 considering the superior discipline of the Khalsa in
19 the knowledge of European tactics, they might beat
20 double their number. The answer fell below the
21 estimate of his Sirdars, for they shouted out “More,
22 more, a lakh!”—or one hundred thousand. The
23 Maharajah silenced them, and said we had given a
24 very fair reply. This high opinion of their own
25 strength and bravery has always been inherent in
26 the Sikh tribe, since it was first formed into a war-
27 The cause like nation by Gooroo Govind. By his tenets,
28 mean” every Sikh or Singh is enjoined to carry a sword;
29 soudier, 2.4 the whole business of his life is declared to be war;
30 disorderly. ‘no other trade or occupation must engage his atten-
31 tion. Thusfighting upon religious principles, it isnot
32 to be wondered at, that after the battles of Moodkee
33 and Feerozshuhur, and even after Sobraon and