208 SKETCH OF THE SIKHS, 



met, afford ample reason to conclude that he was a man of mora than 

 common genius ; and this favorable impression of his character will be 

 confirmed by a consideration of the obje6l of his life, and the means he 

 took to accomplish it» Born in a province on the extreme verge of Indian 

 at the very point where the religion of Mu hammed and the idolatrous 

 worship of the Hindds appeared to touch, and at a moment when both 

 these tribes cherished the most violent rancour and animosity towards 

 each other, his great aim was to blend those jarring elements in peaceful 

 imion, and he only endeavoured to efFe6l this purpose, through the means 

 of mild persuasion. His wish was to recal both Muhammedans and Hin-- 

 diis to an exclusive attention, to that sublimest of all principles, which in- 

 culcates devotion to God, and peace towards man. He had to combat the 

 furious bigotry of the one, and the deep-rooted superstition of the other ; 

 but he attempted to overcome all obstacles by the force of reason, and' 

 humanity: and we cannot have a more convincing proof of the general 

 characSler of that doftrine which he taught, and the inoffensive light in 

 M^hich it was viewed, than the knowledge that its success did not rouse the 

 bigotry of the intolerant and tyrannical Miihammedan government under 

 which he lived. 



Na'n AC did not deem either of his sons, before mentioned, worthy of the 

 succession to his spiritual fun6lionS;, which he bequeathed to a Cshatriya of 

 the Tre'hihi tribe, called LehaistAj who had long been attached to himv 

 and whom he had initiated in the sacred mysteries of his se6i, clothed in 

 the holy mantle of a Fakir, and honored with the name of Angad,* which^ 

 according to some commentators, means own body. 



* This fanciful etymology represents t'le word Angadas a compoaind of the Sanscrit Ang, 

 \vhich signifies bodj/.^ and tiie Persian, Khud, which signifies own. This mixture of lau- 

 , guagc is quite common in the jargon of the Pcnjdb, 



