1 HISTORY OF THE SIKHS. 51
2 days, and when disciplined, the Sikh cavalry could
3 never resist the impetuous charge of European
4 dragoons, and the handful of men composing Her Incapable of
5 Majesty’s 3rd dragoons would have ridden through ceeer
6 and through them. The British cavalry are so ea
7 superior in the horse, that the weight alone of the
8 latter would disperse them when mounted even by
9 a native, much more when carrying a European
10 dragoon, who knows no other command than
11 “Forward!” It was supposed by many, that the
12 Sikh army had deteriorated so much since the days
13 of Runjeet Singh, that they might be considered next
14 to arabble; but it should not have been forgotten,
15 that the Sikh is naturally a soldier, and cares for no The Sikh
16 other employment, which he is forbid by the tenets fae. by the
17 of his religion to adopt. The sole aim of his life is xtigion’
18 to fight, and, however idle and dissipated he may
19 become, he never forgets a science to which he has
20 devoted his whole time and attention, As regards
21 artillery, the Sikhs had not ceased to increase the jy rose of
22 number of their guns after the death of Runjeet Sikh Atillery
23 Singh; and the events of the campaign against the f ae
24 British proved, that they could take nearly fares.
25 hundred guns into the field, independent of those
26 employed in the forts of Lahore, Govind Ghur,
27 and Umritser, besides numerous guns at Peshawur
28 and Mooltan. The artillery of the Sikhs, previous
29 to their crossing the Sutlej, may be safely estimated
30 at 500 guns of all calibres.
31 The portion of the Sikh force sent to Moodkee
32 was evidently an experimental one, and though
33 p 9