1 292 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB.
2 addition to other countries, it comprised the whole province of Lahore
3 which, according to the calculation made by Bernier, produced, in the reign
4 of Aurangzeb, two hundred and forty-six lacs and ninety-five thousand
5 rupees, or two millions four hundred and sixty-nine thousand five-hundred
6 pounds sterling.
7 The different denomi- Before proceeding with our narrative of the Sikh misls, or confederacies,
8 maine. Sit may be interesting to note here the different denominations by which they
9 were known in the country, and give a brief account of the form of their
10 The Mala Sikhs. government and their mode of living. First of these are the Alalwa Sikhs,
11 so called for their extraordinary gallantry under the Byragi Banda, who,
12 when pleased with their deeds uf valour, was said to have foretold, in the
13 joy of victory, that their country would be as rich as Malwa, a province
14 of Hindostén, formerly under Doulat Rao Sindhia, and famous for its salu-
15 brious climate, fertility and great population. These Sikhs were origi-
16 nally the Hindus of the Jééand Gujar tribes, and inhabited the country
17 between the Sutlej and the Jamna. The most powerful among the
18 Malwa Singhs were Sahib Singh of Patiala, Bhangé Singh of Thanesar, Bhig
19 Singh of Jhind, and Bhalel Singh of Kythal. Sirhind was also situated in
20 their territories, but was, during the period of which we are writing, only
21 the shadow of its former grandeur. Its once royal palaces, magnificent
22 edifices and majestic mosques, of which any city might have been proud,
23 were no longer gazed upon with curiosity, wonder and amazement by sight-
24 seers, the spoliation of the former capital of this country having been com-
25 pleted by the Byragi Banda.
26 The Dodba Sikus. Next came the Dodba Singhs, who inhabited the country between the
27 Sutlej] and the Bias, called the Jalandar Bist, or Jalandar Dodb, foremost
28 among them being Tara Singh, a chief of considerable power and influ-
29 ence. The country was the richest of the Sikh possessions, and well-known
30 for its healthy climate and fertility.
31 The Mdnjha Sikhs, The Ménjha Singhs inhabited the county between the Bias and the
32 Ravi called the Bari Doab. The great cities of Lahore and Amritsar were
33 in this province, and consequently it was the great centre of the Sikh
34 power. The principal chiefs of- this country were the ancestors of Ranjit
35 Singh, who afterwards became the founder of the Sikh monarchy, Fatteh
36 Singh, Ahluwalia and Jodh Singh, Ramgarhia.
37 The Sikhs who inhabited the country between the Ravi and the Chindb,
38 The Dharapi Sikhs. were called the Dharapi Singhs from the country being called Dharapi.
39 nous and The Sikhs between the Chinaéb and the Jhelum were called Dhanigheb, aud
40 those who resided in Multan, the Naki Singhs, The Sikhs on the borders
41 of Sindh, and those settled on the Jhelum, delighted in picking quarrels
42 with the Mahomedan chiefs on their borders, with a view to making preda-
43 tory excursions into their country, the result of which was that skirmishes
44 aud petty engagements between these parties were of constant occurrence.
45 The majority of the Sikhs were good horsemen. When equipped for
46 “ete ee the field, they generally carried sword, spear and musket. The archers used
47 the cross-bow, the weapon of their forefathers. The infantry were gener-
48 ally utilized in garrisoning the forts. The cavalry may be said to have been
49 constantly on field service, for théy were always on the lookcut for plunder,
50 and were continually watching the movements of their enemies on the
51 borders. The use of cannon was unknown among the early Sikhs, and was
52 gradually introduced as their resources increased and their civil aud mili-
53 ay power developed. It is believed that in 1800 A.D. the Sikhs had only
54 40* pieces of field artillery.
55 Fen Es a a,
56 * Life of George Thomson, by Franklin.
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