1 THE MODERN HINDUS. 39
2 letter which Alexander wrote to Aristotle, he described “the frightful dangers
3 to which his armies were exposed in India when the enemy hurled upon
4 them flaming thunderbolts.”
5 The Sanskrit work Sukraniti, previously referred to, states that “the
6 wall of a King’s fortress is always guarded by sentinels, is provided with
7 guns and other projectile weapons, and has many strong bastions, with proper
8 loopholes and ditches.” In another passage of the Sukraniti it is stated
9 that the royal watchmen who are on duty about the palace carry firearms.
10 The Kamauclakiya, acknowledged as one of the earliest works on Nitisastra,
11 says that “ confidential agents remaining near the king should rouse him
12 by stratagems, gun-firing and other means, when he is indulging in drinking-
13 bouts, among women, or gambling.” From this Professor Oppert concludes
14 that the practice of firing guns as signals was in vogue among the ancient
15 Hindus. The word firearm is literally in Sanskrit agniaster, a weapon of
16 fire. There is no doubt that gunpowder was known in both China and
17 India at periods far beyond all investigation.
18 There were also the commissariat and naval departments. The former
19 superintended the transport of the accoutrements of war, military re-
20 quisites and provisions for soldiers by means of bullock-trains, horses, camels,
21 &c. The latter codperated with the admiral of the fleet. Private persons
22 were prohibited from keeping elephants, which were considered the property
23 of the State.
24 The Hindus dressed in a cotton shirt reaching below the knee and half-
25 way between it and the ankle. Over this was thrown a mantle, folded
26 round the shoulders and fastened under the right shoulder. The lower part
27 of the body was covered with a cloth reaching to the middle of the leg.
28 This was the common dhott. Rich people wore necklaces, earrings of gold
29 and ivory, and bracelets. They rode in chariots drawn by four horses, and
30 it was considered undignified to ride on horseback without a retinue.
31 Attendants followed, holding umbrellas over them, and everything was done
32 to give their processions an imposing and picturesque appearance. Men
33 allowed their beards to grow and dyed them a variety of colours, red, green,
34 dark-blue and purple. The women were draped; they wore no tight-fitting
35 garments, They stained their hands and feet with henna, sandal and lac.
36 Their eyebrows and foreheads were coloured with musk; their hair adorned
37 with flowers. All wore ornaments and jewels, differing in value according
38 to the means of the wearer.
39 Religious ascetics are often spoken of by the Greek writers. They lived
40 in woods, clothed themselves with the bark of trees, and subsisted on leaves
41 or wild fruit. They abstained from all pleasures and remained motionless
42 for days together, till the- joints became perfectly rigid, or till the nails
43 grew through the palms of the hands and out at the back. Kings came
44 to them and begged their intercession with the gods, in affairs of State or
45 in matters connected with themselves.
46 CHAPTER VI.
47 —p-—_
48 THE MODERN HINDUS.
49 pe Hindus of the present day in the Panjab do not materially differ
50 from their co-religionists in other parts of India, though there can be no
51 doubt that, as regards religious rites and observances, some changes have
52 The art of gun-
53 firing known to the
54 ancient Hindus.
55 The commissariat
56 and naval depart-
57 ments.
58 The dress of the
59 ancient Hindus.
60 Religious ascetics,
61 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com