SKETCH OF THE SIKHS, ^^ 



livelihood by arms, if he can by no other mode. Tloe Vatsya and Sudrd 

 {ire not allowed to make arms their profession, though they may use them 

 ill self defence. 



The sacred book of Guru' GoviND is, not confined to religious sub«, 

 je6ls, or tales of Hindii mythology, related in his own w,ay ; but abound^ 

 in accounts of the battles which he fought, and of the at^lions which wer^^ 

 performed by the most valiant of his followers. Courage is, throughout 

 this work, placed above every other virtue ; and Govind, like Muham- 

 MED, makes martyrdom for the faith which he taught, the shortest and'- 

 most certain road, to honour in this world, and eternal happiness in the- 

 fiiture.; The opinion, which the Sikhs entertain of Govind, will be best' 

 colIe<5led from their most esteemed authors. 



*' Gu'ru' GoviND SiNH,'" one* of those writers States, ^'appeared as 

 *' the tenth Avatar. He meditated on the creator himself, invisible, ete'r-" 

 *< nal, and incomprehensible. He established the X^aV^a his own se^l, 



and by exhibiting singular energy, leaving the hair on his head i and 

 ' seizing the scymiter, he smote every wicked person. He bound the ° 

 " garment of chastity round his loins, grasped the sword of valor, and,' 

 *'' piassing the true word of vi6lory, became viftorious in the! field of com-' 

 *^ bat ; and seizing the Devatds, his foes, he infli6ted on them punish mekt,' 

 *' and, with great success, diffused the sublime Gum 'Jap {-a mystical' 

 " form of -prayer composed by Guru' Govind,) through the world. As 

 "' he was born a warlike Si?ih, he assumed the blue dress ; and "by des- ' 

 ** troying the wicked Twr/^^, he exalted the name of Hari (God) No 

 *^ S i rd J r could stand in battle, against him, but all of them fied;''^n^," 

 ^■i--"' ■•■- •' --- ■ ■ '• i' ,;^i "^'- " 



* B'nAi Gunu' Da's Buale'. ! '; « 



A 4 



