gS2 SKETCH OF THE SIKHS. 



tence, that wandering and adventurous life to wliidi he had been so early 

 accustomed. 



In the character of this reformer of the Sikhs, it is impossible not to re- 

 cognize many of those features which have distinguished the most celebra- 

 ted founders of political communities. The objecl' he attempted was great 

 and laudable. It was the emancipation of his tribe from oppression and per* 

 secution ; and the means which' he adopted, were such, as a comprehensive 

 mind could alone have sugg^ested. The Muhammedan conquerors c." India^^ 

 as they added to their territories, added to their strength, by making prose- 

 lytes through the double means of persuasion and force ; and these, the mo* 

 jnent they had adopted their faith, became the supporters of their power, 

 against tlie efforts of the Hindus ^ who, bound in .the chains of their civil 

 and religious institutions, could neither add to their number by admitting 

 converts, nor allow more than a sm^all proportion of the population of the 

 country to arm against the enemy. Govind saw that he could only hope 

 for success by a bold departure from usages which were cakulated^ to keep^ 

 those, by whom they were observed, in a= degraded su^bje^ion to an in- 

 sulting and intolerant race. " You make Hindm Muliammedans, and are 

 ^* justified by your laws," he is said to have written to Aurungzeb, •* now 

 " I, on a principle of self preservation, which is superior to all laws, wilF 

 ** make Miihamynedans Hindus.^ You may rest," he added, " in fan- 

 ^* cied security; but beware! for I will teach the sparrow to strike the 

 " eagle to the ground ;:" a fine allusion to his design of inspiring the low- 

 est races among th^ Hindus with that valour and ambition which would- 

 lead them to perform the greatest adlions. 



* Meaning Sikhs^ whose faitb, though it diifers widely from the present worship of the 

 Hindus^ has beea thought to have cQixsi^aable aiiaiog/ io the puie and sinaple religioa' 

 originallj followed by that nation„ 



