1 195
2 EXPLANATIONS OF THE PLATES.
3 The lithographic engravings in this, the first volume, are faithful
4 copies of Portraits and Sketches, taken by a native at Lahore — excepting
5 only the likeness of the Faqueer Haridas, which I had from Captain
6 Gardner; and though I never saw Haridas, I rely on the resemblance;
7 for, on showing it to several natives, who knew him well, as also to
8 General Ventura and Colonel Sir C. M. Wade, who were present at the
9 restoration of the Faqueer, they recognised the likeness.
10 Before entering upon the Explanations of the Plates, I shall give
11 some account of the manners and customs of the Sikhs and Hindoos,
12 in addition to the communications already made.
13 Sikh , Sing, Singh , Khalsa, are names of that people known to the
14 English by the appellation Sikhs. Sikh is a derivation from Sikhna, to
15 learn; hence, the Sikhs are disciples (pupils) of Baba Nanuk, the Re-
16 former. Sing, signifies a lion , or hero ; the Sikhs conceiving themselves
17 to be a powerful race, a nation of warriors.
18 In their religious principles, they are Reformed Indians. Formerly,
19 the Sikhs inhabited the Punjab only,, but, are now to be met with in
20 various parts of Hindostan ; as in Cashmere, Thibet, in the North ; in
21 the South, at Moultan and Scinde; as far as Calcutta, in the East; and,
22 in the West, at Pishawur and Cabul. Notwithstanding their Reforma-
23 tion, the Sikhs, like the Hindoos, burn their dead ; and were they not
24 prohibited by the English, they would burn living beings also with the
25 dead. Their hair, as elsewhere stated, is long ; it is wound up in a knot,
26 placed on the fore-part of the head, around which, beginning at the
27 knot, they wind a long and narrow muslin of fine texture, which they
28 denominate Destar, i. e. head-dress, bearing the appearance of a helmet.
29 The more opulent add to this head-dress pieces of silk, embroidered
30 with silver and gold ; also hooks and clasps, with projecting feathers,
31 and a variety of pearls and precious stones. They wear earrings of gold
32 and gems ; armlets and bracelets, and a profusion of neck ornaments —
33 as exhibited in the male and female portraits in Plates 1, 2, 3, 4.
34 The Hindoos wear their hair short, which may be seen below the
35 VOL. i.
36 a