Tempo:
160 1802-21.
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
CHAP. VI
body of brave and banded men which furnishes the most obvious examples of degradation.^ The husbandman of the Punjab, as of other provinces in Upper India, is confined to his cakes of millet or wheat and to a draught of water from the well; the soldier fares not much better, and neither indulge in strong liquors, except upon occasions of rejoicing. The indolent man of wealth or station, or the more idle religious fanatic, may seek excitement, or a refuge from the vacancy of his mind, in drugs and drink; but expensiveness of diet is rather a Muhammadan than an Indian characteristic, and the Europeans carry their potations and the pleasures of the table to an excess unknown to the Turk and Persian, and which greatly scandalize the frugal Hindu.-
Ran jit Singh's favourites.
Khushal Singh, a
Brahman, ion-20.
Yet Ran jit Singh not only yielded more than was becoming to the promptings of his appetites, but, like all despots and solitary authorities, he laid himself open to the charge of extravagant partiality and favouHe had placed himself in some degree in ritism. opposition to the whole Sikh people; the free followers of Gobind could not be the observant slaves of an equal member of the Kh'alsa, and he sought for strangers whose applause would be more ready if less sincere, and in whom he could repose some confidenje as the creatures of his favour. The first who thus rose distinction was Khushal Singh, a Brahman from near Saharanpur, who enlisted in one of the first raised regiments, and next became a runner or footman on the Maharaja's establishment. He attracted Ranjit Singh's notice, and was made Jamadar of the Devni, to
1 (Punjab, pp. 76, 77) admits general Col. Steinbach simplicity of diet, but he also makes some revolting practices universal. Capt. Murray (Ranjit Singh, p. 85) and Mr. Masson (Journeys, i. 435) are likewise somewhgt sweeping in their condemnations, and even Mr. Elphinstone (Historij of India, ii. 565) makes the charge of culpable devotion to sensual pleasures very comprehensive. The morals, or the manners, of a people, however, should not be deduced from a few examples of profligacy; but the Indians equally exaggerate with regard to Europeans, and, in pictorial or pantomimic pieces, they usually represent Englishmen drinking and swearing in the society of courtesans, and as equally prompt to use their weapons with or without a reason. - Forster (Travels, i. 333) notices the temperance of the Sikhs, and their forbearance from many enervating sensual pleasures, and he quotes, he thinks, Col. Poller to a similar Sikhs effect. Malcolm (Sketch, p. 141) likewise describes the of the as hardy and simple; but, doubtless, as the power nation has increased since these times, luxuries and vicious pleasures have, in numerous instances, followed wealth and
indolence.
HISTORY OF THE SIKHS
CHAP. VI
body of brave and banded men which furnishes the most obvious examples of degradation.^ The husbandman of the Punjab, as of other provinces in Upper India, is confined to his cakes of millet or wheat and to a draught of water from the well; the soldier fares not much better, and neither indulge in strong liquors, except upon occasions of rejoicing. The indolent man of wealth or station, or the more idle religious fanatic, may seek excitement, or a refuge from the vacancy of his mind, in drugs and drink; but expensiveness of diet is rather a Muhammadan than an Indian characteristic, and the Europeans carry their potations and the pleasures of the table to an excess unknown to the Turk and Persian, and which greatly scandalize the frugal Hindu.-
Ran jit Singh's favourites.
Khushal Singh, a
Brahman, ion-20.
Yet Ran jit Singh not only yielded more than was becoming to the promptings of his appetites, but, like all despots and solitary authorities, he laid himself open to the charge of extravagant partiality and favouHe had placed himself in some degree in ritism. opposition to the whole Sikh people; the free followers of Gobind could not be the observant slaves of an equal member of the Kh'alsa, and he sought for strangers whose applause would be more ready if less sincere, and in whom he could repose some confidenje as the creatures of his favour. The first who thus rose distinction was Khushal Singh, a Brahman from near Saharanpur, who enlisted in one of the first raised regiments, and next became a runner or footman on the Maharaja's establishment. He attracted Ranjit Singh's notice, and was made Jamadar of the Devni, to
1 (Punjab, pp. 76, 77) admits general Col. Steinbach simplicity of diet, but he also makes some revolting practices universal. Capt. Murray (Ranjit Singh, p. 85) and Mr. Masson (Journeys, i. 435) are likewise somewhgt sweeping in their condemnations, and even Mr. Elphinstone (Historij of India, ii. 565) makes the charge of culpable devotion to sensual pleasures very comprehensive. The morals, or the manners, of a people, however, should not be deduced from a few examples of profligacy; but the Indians equally exaggerate with regard to Europeans, and, in pictorial or pantomimic pieces, they usually represent Englishmen drinking and swearing in the society of courtesans, and as equally prompt to use their weapons with or without a reason. - Forster (Travels, i. 333) notices the temperance of the Sikhs, and their forbearance from many enervating sensual pleasures, and he quotes, he thinks, Col. Poller to a similar Sikhs effect. Malcolm (Sketch, p. 141) likewise describes the of the as hardy and simple; but, doubtless, as the power nation has increased since these times, luxuries and vicious pleasures have, in numerous instances, followed wealth and
indolence.
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