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2 CHAPTER X.
3 THE RELIGION OF THE SIKHS.
4 The Sikh religion does not boast of a very high
5 antiquity. Previous to the close of the fifteenth
6 century, the whole of the people inhabiting the
7 Punjaub were either followers of Hindooism,
8 devoutly believing in the mythology which, to
9 the present moment, is held in reverence by the
10 millions spread over British India, or disciples of
11 Mahomed from conviction, or the proselyting
12 influence of Persian and Afighan conquerors.
13 But in the early part of the eighteenth century
14 arose one of those remarkable men who, in all
15 ages and countries, have been destined by the
16 simplest means — the mere efibrt of mind — to
17 effect a complete reform in the principles and
18 practices of religious faith. Nanao Shah, the
19 son of a salt merchant in a very small way of
20 business, and from his childhood a devout Hin-
21 doo, became at a very early age strongly imbued