1 THE ARMY OF THE PUNJAUB. 69
2 thing to see them riding about with a drawn
3 sword in each hand, two more in their belt, a
4 matchlock at their back, and three or four quoits
5 fastened round their turbans. The quoit is an
6 arm peculiar to this race of people : it is a steel
7 ring, varying from six to nine inches in diameter,
8 and about an inch in breadth, very thin, and the
9 edges ground very sharp : they throw it with more
10 force than dexterity, but not so (as alleged) as
11 to be able to lop off a limb at sixty or eighty yards.
12 In general, the bystanders are in greater danger
13 than the object aimed at. Runjeet Singh did
14 much towards reducing this worthless race of
15 people to a state of subjection, but he only par-
16 tially succeeded, and latterly they have become
17 more intolerant than ever. They, however, fight
18 with desperation, and are always employed upon
19 the most dangerous service. In 1815, when the
20 Maharajah's army was investing the city of
21 Mooltan, the Affghans made so protracted and
22 determined a resistance that Runjeet Singh was
23 induced to offer very advantageous terms com-
24 pared to what he was in the habit of doing under
25 similar circumstances; and during the progress of
26 the negotiations, an Akalee, named Sadhoo Singh,
27 with a few companions, advanced to the fausse
28 braye, and without orders, in one of their fits of
29 enthusiasm, attacked the Affghans, who were either
30 sleeping or careless on their watch, and killed