1 CHARACTER OF RUNJEET SINGH. 181
2 adopt a singular method of mounting the tall horses, on
3 which he loves to ride. A man kneels down before him,
4 and he throws his leg over his neck, when the man rises
5 with the jVIuha-Raja mounted on his shoulders: he then
6 approaches the horse, and Runjeet Singh, putting his
7 right foot into the stirrup, and holding by the mane,
8 throws his left over the man's head, and the back of the
9 horse, into the stirrup on the other side. His love of his
10 horses is extreme, and has been already several times
11 mentioned. He has them continually in his sight, cover-
12 ed with jewels and rich caparisons, and they are the
13 objects of his frequent caresses. He is himself plain and
14 simple in dress, and quite unreserved in all his habits ;
15 and his diet consists of high stimulants of which he par-
16 takes sparingly. He has great delight however in mili-
17 tary parade, and display, and spends nearly the half of
18 every day in seeing reviews, or examining equipments, or
19 in some way studying to promote the efficiency of some
20 branch of his army. He also seems to take pleasure in
21 seeing his courtiers and establishments decorated in jew-
22 els and handsome dresses, and it is not to be denied, that
23 they show considerable taste, for the splendour of the
24 display of his Durbar is very striking. Although no
25 bigot, and active in restraining the zeal and fanaticism of
26 the Akalees, and others, Runjeet Singh is yet scru-
27 pulous in the performance of all the prescribed observ-
28 ances of the Sikh faith, and, for a certain number of hours
29 every day, has the Grunth read before him by Gooroos,
30 and is liberal in his charities to Fuqeers and men of re-
31 puted sanctity. He is indeed superstitious in the extreme,
32 readily conceiving fancies in respect to his destiny, and
33 fortunes, and never failing to consult astrologers before
34 entering upon any important undertaking.