Tempo:
CHAP. IV
THE AKALIS
99
the Bhangis, and the low position of the Nakkais and ^*Sukerchukias. The first could perhaps assemble 20,000 strength of men, in its widely scattered possessions, and the last the Misais. about a tenth of that number; and the most moderate estimate of the total force of the nation may likewise be assumed to be the truest. All the Sikhs were horsemen, and among a half-barbarous people dwelling on plains, or in action with undisciplined forces, cavalry must ever be the most formidable arm. The Sikhs speedily became famous for the effective use of the
matchlock when mounted, and this skill is said to have descended to them from their ancestors, in whose hands the bow was a fatal weapon. Infantry were almost solely used to garrison forts, or a man followed a misal on foot, until plunder gave him a horse or the means Cannon was not used by the early of buying one. Sikhs, and its introduction was very gradual, for its possession implies wealth, or an organization both civil and military.^ Besides the regular confederacies, with their* moderate degree of subordination, there was a body of men who threw off all subjection to earthly governors, and who peculiarly represented the religious element of Sikhism. These were the 'Akalis', the immortals, or The order rather the soldiers of God, who, with their blue dress of Akaiis. and bracelets of steel, claimed for themselves a direct The Guru had called Their origin institution by Gobind Singh. upon men to sacrifice everything for their faith, to and PJ"'"°^ leave their homes and to follow the profession of arms; '^^p!®^ but he and all his predecessors had likewise denounced the inert asceticism of the Hindu sects, and thus the fanatical feeling of a Sikh took a destructive turn. The Akalis formed themselves in their struggle to reconcile warlike activity with the relinquishment of the world. The meek and humble were satisfied with the assiduous performance of menial offices in temples, but the fierce enthusiasm of others prompted them to act from time to time as the armed guardians of Amritsar, or suddenly to go where blind impulse might lead them, and to win their daily bread, even single-handed, at the point of the sword.^ They also took upon themselves himself estimated their strength at 60,000 horse and 5,000 foot. (Life, by Francklin, p. 274.) 1 George Thomas, giving the supposed status of a. d. 1800, says the Sikhs had 40 pieces of field artillery. (Life, by Francklin, p.
274.) cf. Malcolm
(Sketch, p. 116), who repeats, and apparently acquiesces in, the opinion, that the Akalis were instiThere is not, however, tuted as an order by Guru Gobind. any writing of Gobind's on record, which shows that he 2
THE AKALIS
99
the Bhangis, and the low position of the Nakkais and ^*Sukerchukias. The first could perhaps assemble 20,000 strength of men, in its widely scattered possessions, and the last the Misais. about a tenth of that number; and the most moderate estimate of the total force of the nation may likewise be assumed to be the truest. All the Sikhs were horsemen, and among a half-barbarous people dwelling on plains, or in action with undisciplined forces, cavalry must ever be the most formidable arm. The Sikhs speedily became famous for the effective use of the
matchlock when mounted, and this skill is said to have descended to them from their ancestors, in whose hands the bow was a fatal weapon. Infantry were almost solely used to garrison forts, or a man followed a misal on foot, until plunder gave him a horse or the means Cannon was not used by the early of buying one. Sikhs, and its introduction was very gradual, for its possession implies wealth, or an organization both civil and military.^ Besides the regular confederacies, with their* moderate degree of subordination, there was a body of men who threw off all subjection to earthly governors, and who peculiarly represented the religious element of Sikhism. These were the 'Akalis', the immortals, or The order rather the soldiers of God, who, with their blue dress of Akaiis. and bracelets of steel, claimed for themselves a direct The Guru had called Their origin institution by Gobind Singh. upon men to sacrifice everything for their faith, to and PJ"'"°^ leave their homes and to follow the profession of arms; '^^p!®^ but he and all his predecessors had likewise denounced the inert asceticism of the Hindu sects, and thus the fanatical feeling of a Sikh took a destructive turn. The Akalis formed themselves in their struggle to reconcile warlike activity with the relinquishment of the world. The meek and humble were satisfied with the assiduous performance of menial offices in temples, but the fierce enthusiasm of others prompted them to act from time to time as the armed guardians of Amritsar, or suddenly to go where blind impulse might lead them, and to win their daily bread, even single-handed, at the point of the sword.^ They also took upon themselves himself estimated their strength at 60,000 horse and 5,000 foot. (Life, by Francklin, p. 274.) 1 George Thomas, giving the supposed status of a. d. 1800, says the Sikhs had 40 pieces of field artillery. (Life, by Francklin, p.
274.) cf. Malcolm
(Sketch, p. 116), who repeats, and apparently acquiesces in, the opinion, that the Akalis were instiThere is not, however, tuted as an order by Guru Gobind. any writing of Gobind's on record, which shows that he 2
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