.gS'g ■ -SKETCH" OF THE SlitHSi 



^CSikhsmMese proviiices,/ the' extent. of their possessions, m the elimatQ- 

 ^nd. |5iQdu6lions of the eoiintry blinder their rule, I am. little. acquainted; 

 Tkone^mrMiiMn, ,asv/ell: as, those settled.. On -the fiver Jthakm:, are s.aid 

 to be dQBStantly engaged; in a .predatory ^v=arfare, •. -either Y^th. the officer^ 

 ^f.theJ^^M?^: governmeat, or with Muhamm0Man:<^]\i^£simho:hsiYe Jdgirs 

 m theiii-'ticinity.i j;^ 'u,.:'^ui:.U'^:> Ijhz, ;.\i-aC^\iA, 'iu zr^^-rA ;:dT Moz cr ^ ' 



The government of the Sikhs, considered in its theory, may,' as 'has 

 been before stated,;,:be- termed a/theoer'gicy.'- Tlieyobey.a temiiporal .chief , 

 it:,is"triie;^ but that "chief preserves his powe-n aiidi'-autJiprit^^ by -professing 

 timself the servant of the Khdifu* or:;.gpyernmieM,l}Mhich ean'oiily be 

 ^m^M,^c\y. in times , of great public- emergency.,, •thro.Lig-h. the means of a 

 national counci-l, -.^of ...which^ every .chief Js;a^mti5iber,- .and;whxh is.'SeppoT 

 sed to deliberate and resolve under the jmii^ediia^e^ipspiration and impulse 

 of an invisible being; who, they beheve, alwaj^s watches over the intei'^' 

 Ifests'df the corn mob wealth. 



The nature of the power, estabhshed-'fe^^ the -ten! porar chiefs of the 

 Sikhs, has been sufficiently explained in the na^Tative of their history. 

 It will- be necessary, before any accomit^s giv^n of the forrfls and aftion 

 of their Guru-ma'td, or greatJiationat pQuncil,, which, is intended .-to have a 

 supreme authority over -their federative republic, to take a view of that 

 body of 'Acdlis, pr4mitioft4ls;,- who.; under: tbe'-doubie 'Ghara(51i:er of fanatic 

 |)riests, and desperate soldiers,;; h'ave-us.urped the sole dire'^^-ioh of all reli- 

 -gious affairs at Amrtisaf^' zyiA areiconseqiieiitiy leading men- -in a -council 



* The wo'id Khalsd, wblch has before begu explained lo.pieari the, state or, commonwealth, 

 is supposed, by the S/7i:A5, to have a mjstical meuiilng, aud to imply that superior govera- 

 xaent, under the protection of which,, " t!iey Five, and to (he established rules and law-s of 

 !' ivhichj as fixed by Gu'eu' Go'vind, it is their civil and rcii^ ions duty to coufofm.."^ 



