1 THE RELIGION OF THE SIKHS. 119
2 and persecutors. The result was a very exten-
3 sive conversion of his countrymen from the
4 Brahminical and Mahomedan religions to a
5 belief in pure deism. The new disciples of
6 Nanac called themselves Sikhs — a term derived
7 from the Sanscrit, and applicable to the followers
8 of any particular teacher. It has remained with
9 the people to this moment. At length, after a
10 few years spent in pilgrimages and peregrinations
11 even to Mecca and Medina, Nanac committed
12 his views and opinions to paper, producing a
13 book of instructions to his followers which was
14 multiplied by the agency of the Pundits, who,
15 before the printing press found its way to India,
16 subsisted by transcribing sacred works. Nanac's
17 last journey was from Mooltan to Kinterpore on
18 the banks of Ravee, where he died, after giving
19 proofs of Divine confidence by the performance of
20 what the people supposed to be miracles. Nanac
21 was succeeded in the oflSice of teacher of the new
22 doctrines by a low caste man, named Lehara,
23 who had long been his most faithful and attached
24 servant and disciple, and to whom he bequeathed
25 his mantle and the title or name of Argad.
26 Aroad lived but a short time, and was in like
27 manner succeeded by a menial of the name of
28 Amera Dos. Both of these men advanced the
29 interests of the Sikh religion by their piety and
30 austerities, and were further aided in the work of