1 68 THE ARMY OF THE PUNJAUB.
2 Amongst the Mussulmans this desire for a
3 change of masters is particularly strong, and
4 there is no doubt that in time the Hindoos would
5 become equally reconciled to a just and equitable
6 system of government ; but at present the feeling
7 of the latter against a race, who are not restrained
8 by religious obligation from the use of animal
9 food, is anything but friendly. The Sikh soldiery
10 are to a man opposed to British supremacy, for
11 its establishment would prove a death-blow to
12 their licentious and reckless habits, and destroy
13 the chances of advancement which are great in
14 proportion to the prevalence of anarchv and civil
15 discord.
16 A description of the Sikh army is not irrelevant
17 to the subject of this chapter.
18 This force, consisting of about 110,000 men, is
19 divided into regulars and irregulars ; the former
20 of whom, about 70,000 strong, are drilled and
21 appointed according to the European system-
22 The cavalry branch of the disciplined force
23 amounts to nearly 13,000, and the infantry and
24 artillery to 60,000 more. The irregulars, va-
25 riously armed and equipped, are nearly 40,000
26 strong, of which number upwards of 20,000 are
27 cavalry, the remainder consisting of infantry and
28 matchlock men, while the contingents, which the
29 sirdars or chiefs are obliged to parade on the re-
30 quisition of the sovereign, amount to consider-