1 94 HISTORY OF THE SIKUS.
2 to their causes, we take a view of men and matters
3 which might at first sight appear foreign to the
4 subject : ours isa history, and not merely a military
5 detail, and we are therefore forced into an elucida-
6 tion of all the events which have had such an
7 important influence on the country of which this
8 work treats. Our task is to supply those who may
9 honour these pages by perusing them with a general
10 knowledge of the operations of the army of the
11 Sutlej; but even in this attempt, had we not
12 received the valuable aid of an esteemed friend, we
13 doubt if success would have attended the under-
14 taking.*
15 Toreturn. Whatever the conduct of the political
16 agents may have been, or by whatever means the
17 hostile disposition of the Sikhs had been roused
18 which induced them to cross the Sutlej, it was
19 proved at the battle of Moodkee, that they were
20 far superior to any foes the British army of India
21 had ever encountered in the field.
22 Present state | We have endeavoured to shew the spirit which
23 asi co ie actuated the Khalsa troops in their attempt to
24 ane spread their conquests over Hindostan ; and it now
25 Foner ters, Seems proper to enquire, whether the Native portion
26 of the British army was likely to have opposed a
27 firm resistance to the Sikhs.
28 The victories gained in India by a Clive, an
29 *We trust our friend Captain Combe, will not blame us for thus acknow-
30 ledging but a small portion of the valuable and never-to-be-forgotten aid we
31 have experienced at his hands; and without which, and his persevering
32 example, this work might never have seen the light.—Author.