1 124 TH^ RELIGION OF THE SIKHS,
2 having lost caste, but as Hindoos that have
3 joined a political association, which obliges them
4 to conform to general rules established for its
5 preservation, neither refuse to intermarry nor to
6 eat with them.
7 " The higher caste of Hindoos^ such as Brahmins
8 CshatriyaSj who have become Sikhs, continue to
9 intermarry with converts of their own tribes, but
10 not with Hindoos of the caste they have aban-
11 doned, as they are polluted by eating animal
12 food, all kinds of which are lawful to Sikhsy
13 except the cow, which it is held sacrilege to slay.
14 Nanac, whose object was to conciliate the Ma-
15 homedans to the creed, prohibited hog's flesh
16 also, but it was introduced by his successors, as
17 much, perhaps, from a spirit of revenge against
18 the Moslems, as from considerations of indul-
19 gence to the numerous converts of the Jat and
20 Gujar tribe, among whom wild hog is a favourite
21 species of food.
22 **The Mahomedans who become Sikhs inter-
23 marry with each other, but are allowed to pre-
24 serve none of their usages, being obliged to eat
25 hog's flesh, and abstain from circumcision.
26 " The Sikhs are forbid the use of tobacco, but
27 allowed to indulge in spirituous liquors, which
28 they almost all drink to excess, and it is rare to
29 see a Sikh soldier afl;er sunset quite sober. Their
30 drink is an ardent spirit made in the Punjaub^