Lehal Library

— A HISTORY OF THE SIKHS CHAPTER I THE COUNTRY AND PEOPLE — Geographical Limits of Sikh Occupation or Influence Climate, Productions, &c. of the Sikh Dominions Inhabitants, Races, Tribes Religions People Characteristics and of the Effects of Race and Religion Partial Migrations of Tribes — — . — — Religious Proselytism. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries of Geographithe Christian era, Nanak and Gobind, of the Kshattriya cai limits. race, obtained a few converts to their doctrines of religious reform and social emancipation among the Jat peasants of Lahore and the southern banks of the Sutlej. The 'Sikhs', or 'Disciples', have now become a nation; and they occupy, or have extended their influence, from Delhi to Peshawar, and from the plains of Sind to the Karakoram mountains. The dominions acquired by the Sikhs are thus included between the 28th and 36th parallels of north latitude, and between the 71st and TTth meridians of east longitude; and if a base of four hundred and fifty miles be drawn from Panipat to the Khaibar Pass, two triangles, almost equilateral, may be described upon it, which shall include the conquests of Ranjit Singh and the fixed colonies of the Sikh people. The country of the Sikhs, being thus situated in a ciimate, medium degree of latitude, corresponding nearly with producthat of northern Africa and the American States, and t'°"s, &c. consisting either of broad plains not much above the sea level, or of mountain ranges which rise two and three miles into the air, possesses every variety of climate and every description of natural produce. The winter of Ladakh is long and" rigorous, snow covers the ground for half the year, the loneliness of its vast solitudes appals the heart, and naught living meets the eye; yet the shawl-wool goat gives a value to the rocky ^^^^^ ^^^ wastes of that elevated region, and its scanty acres yield shawl' wool uneoualled crops of wheat and barley, where the stars 'of Ladakh. can be discerned at midday and the thin air scarcely bears the sound of thunder to the ear.^ The heat and I 1 Shawl wool is produced most abundantly, and of the