TROPICAL TRIBES AND RACES 203 



control ; he knows how to keep cool and unexcited in moments of 

 difficulty and danger. He is therefore much less liable to sudden 

 panic than the Pa than, though he may not have the same dash and 

 elan as the Pa than in his most warlike mood. Taken as a whole, 

 the Sikh is one of the finest types of men to be found in Asia. 

 Is independent without being insolent, resolute and firm in 

 character, remarkably free from petty bias and prejudices which 

 run rampant in a land of prejudices like India. Respects himself, 

 and as a result commands the respect of others ; is a soldier by 

 instinct and tradition ; regards cowardice as worse than a crime ; 

 and with his splendid physique and well-bred ways is one of the 

 finest of Oriental races " (Bonarjee). 



Unlike the Rajputs, Dogras, or Jats, Sikhs are not the high 

 caste descendants of the conquering Aryans. Sikhism includes 

 within its folds all of these, but in addition many of the lower and 

 despised classes. Thus the despised scavenging Chuhra of the 

 Punjab, Sikhism has transformed into the soldierly Mazhabi. 



The earlier Gurus of the Sikhs preached a peaceful religious 

 life, and it was only the pressure of Mogul dominance that first 

 turned Sikhism to thoughts of war. Har Govind, a practical and 

 adventurous Guru, urged the necessity for a knowledge of the 

 use of arms. 



He not only permitted, but encouraged the use of flesh except 

 that of cows and unclean animals as articles of diet, believing 

 its consumption would tend to improve the strength and physique 

 of the race. He did his utmost to instil manliness, self-reliance, 

 and courage amongst his followers. The absence of caste drew 

 large numbers to the Sikh fold, and many of the lower castes, but 

 also of the higher, as Jats, Khattris, and Rajputs, embraced the 

 Sikh faith. 



After centuries of warfare and gradual consolidation, the Sikh, 

 became united under Ranjit Singh, and overran the whole of the 

 Punjab. 



In Chapter IV. we have given the food materials and dietary 

 of the Sikh in detail, and shown that, as in the case of the Jat 

 Sikh, his splendid reputation and martial qualities have not been 

 acquired on dietaries affording a low level of protein metabolism ; 

 but, on the contrary, that the nitrogenous interchange possible 

 from his diet scales is quite on a par with that of European 

 soldiers. 



The Sikh is a high protein-feeder ; he will eat the flesh of all 



