1 10 SKETCH OF THE SIKHS.
2 had not tasted for three days, that they
3 could only reply to the observations of
4 Na&nac by bending their heads, and other
5 civil signs of acquiescence. Nanac, af-
6 fected by their situation, said to his com-
7 panion, with emotion: “ My father has
8 * sent me to deal in salt, with a view to .
9 “ profit; but the gain of this world is
10 “ unstable, and profitless; my wish is to
11 “ relieve these poor men, and to obtain
12 “ that gain which is permanent and eter-
13 “ nal.” His companion* replied: “ Thy
14 “ resolution is good: do not delay its exe-
15 “ cution.” Nanac immediately distributed
16 his money among the hungry Fakirs ; who,
17 after they had gained strength from the
18 refreshment which it obtained them, entered
19 into a long discourse with him on the unity
20 of God, with which he was much delighted.
21 He returned next day to his father, who
22 * Bala Sand’hu, who gave this advice, continued,
23 through Nanac’s life, to be his favourite attendant and
24 disciple.