1 262 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 the, former. If there be no public enemy against
3 whom they can wield it, nor any government capa-
4 ble of maintaining them as soldiers, what alterna-
5 tive remains for them, but to turn their arms
6 against each other ?
7 The present condition of the Punjab is as
8 The degraded degraded as it was when the Mussulmans con-
9 Punjab. quered the fierce and barbarous hordes of Sikhs
10 led by the fanatic Byrojee Bunda; the only differ-
11 ence being, that on the latter occasion, the Sikhs
12 had never had a king, while on the present, they
13 have one in name at least, if destitute of the other
14 attributes of sovereignty. There had never been a
15 man amongst them who could not only assert his
16 own independence as a Sirdar, but overcome all
17 his peers, and form a kingdom, until Runjeet
18 The great cha- appeared on the stage, and effected an object
19 ne which must ever impress us with the highest
20 ee opinion of his energy, courage, and judgment.
21 the British, Even aided by a British force, the government of
22 mentofta- Lahore is feeble, and could not exist a day were
23 tee "tthe garrison of Lahore withdrawn.
24 The present arrangement in the Punjab is an
25 experiment which may prove successful, and every
26 one who wishes to see order and good government
27 take the place of misrule and anarchy, must wish
28 for its success. We have had quite enough of
29 warfare.
30 State of It may be said that other states have been
31 tee similarly situated, for instance, that of Bhurtpore ;
32 that of Bhurt- . o
33 pore. and that after leaving a regiment, or even half a one,