254 ■ SKETCH OF THE SIKHS. 



dually possessed of property, though they affed poverty, "and subsist 



upon charity; which, however, since their numbers have "increased, they 

 generally extort, by accusing the principal chiefs of crimes, imposing lines 

 upon them, and, in the event of their refusing to pay, preventing them 

 from performing their ablutions, or going through any of their religious 



CQYemomes Sit Amrttsan /,...,.. t ,...r^. - • 



s It will not, when the above circumstances are considered, be thought 

 surprising, that the most powerful of the Sikh chiefs should desire to con- 

 ciliate this body of fanatics, no individual of which can be oliended with 

 impunity, as the cause of one is made the cause of the whole i and a chief, 

 who is become unpopular with the AcdliSy must not only avoid Amritsar^ 

 but is likely to have his dependants taught, when they pay their devotions 

 at that place, that it is pious to resist his authority, 



• The Acdlis have a great interest in maintaining both the religion and 

 government of the Sikhs^ as established by Gu'ru' Govind ; as, on its 

 continuance in that shape, their religious and political influence must de- 

 pend. Should Amritsar cease to be a place of resort, or be no longer 

 considered as the religious capital of the ^tate^ in which all questions that 

 involve the general interests of the commcMiwealth are to be decided; 

 this formidable order would at once fall, from that power and considera- 

 tion which they now possess, to a level with other mendicants. 



When a Guru-matdy or great national council, is called, as it always is, 

 or ought to be, when any imminent danger threatens the country, or any 



■whose diity.ista address the deitj, and to read and explain the Adi-Graiifh to the Sikhs. 

 They are, in general, men of some education. A Sikh, of any tribe, may be admitted into 

 either of these classes, as among the Acdlis, wlio admit all into their body who chuse to con- 

 ibrm to their rules. 'XK--:^\.i -..i^.i..^ i\,^: , ..-^ •■■u>'.y:x.,.i^'h}-^.^r.\-..u-- ■ ■ 



