1 496 HISTORY OF THE PANJAB,
2 large, quick and searching, and its fire and brilliancy, displayed at once the
3 great acuteness and the energy of mind of its owner. He possessed a long
4 flowing white beard, which gave additional grace to his countenance. He
5 generally sat cross-legged on his chair, and, while he talked, one of his hands
6 rested on his knee, while he employed the other in stroking his beard.
7 He possessed a lively imagination, and his habits were genial and
8 quite unreserved. In dress he was exceedingly plain, yet he was fond of
9 show and pageantry, paid the most rigid attention to the elegance of his
10 court and took delight in seeing his grandees and sardars superbly dressed
11 and decorated with jewels. He was not a bigot, but he performed his
12 religious ohservances regularly, heard the Granth every day at the
13 appointed time and munificently rewarded the Gurts, Bhdis and Bawds
14 who helped him in the performance of religious ceremonies, He had
15 great power of dissimulation, and his caprice, as has been amply shown in
16 the foregoing chapters, had no bounds, In his pursuit of ambition or pleasure
17 he was indifferent alike to the pledges of friendship and to the ties of blood
18 or affection. In his youth he was remarkably active and vigorous, and an
19 excellent horseman and sportsman, well skilled in military feats: He was
20 fond of show and lavish in his gifts to his courtiers; but his avarice grew
21 with his age, and a desire for hoarding treasure became his ruling passion.
22 His temper was irritated at times, as the result of a.shattered constitution,
23 and he was unable to ride on a horse without being lifted on toit. He took
24 delight in military displays and parades, and evinced a lively interest in the
25 equipment of his army.
26 Ranjit Singh remoulded the political condition of the Sikhs, and con-
27 solidated numerous dismembered petty states into a kingdom. His re-
28 lations with the paramount power of India were of a most cordial nature,
29 and, although he had some misapprehensions in regard to them at first, yet,
30 having once recognized his situation, he faithfully observed his treaty with
31 the Government and kept his word with that power until his death.
32 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh J i eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com