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By this statement it will appear that the entire force of this nation, exclufive of the diftri&t held by Zemaun Shah, eastward of the Attock,* can amount to no more than fixty-four thoufand men, and of thefe two-thirds might probably take the field, were a chief of experience and enterprize to appear amongst them; but this in Mr. Thomas's opinion is highly improbable. The chief of most consequence at prefent is Runjeet Sing: he having poffeffion of Lahore, which may be termed the capital of the Punjab, has acquired a decided ascendancy over the other chiefs, though he be frequently in a state of warfare with his neighbours who inhabit that part of the country fituated between the Beyah and the Rawee. This chief is deemed by the natives as the most powerful among them. He poffeffes one thousand horse, which are his own property.

The repeated invafion of the Punjab by small armies, of late years, affords a convincing proof that the national force of the feiks cannot be

* These districts are computed to reach from Sirhind to the banks of that river,

fo formidable as has been reprefented. Several instances occur in fupport of this affertion. Not many years fince, Dara Row Scindia invaded it at the head of ten thousand men; though not more than fix thousand of that number deferved the name of troops, the remainder being a defpicable rabble. Though joined on his march by two chiefs, Buggeel Sing and Kurrum Sing, he was at length oppofed by Sahib Sing, the chief of Fyzealpore. That chief was encamped under the walls of Kuffoor,* having the river Cugger in his front; was defeated in an engagement, and the ensuing day the fort furrendered. Sahib Sing then agreed to pay the Mahrattas a fum of money, and most of the chiefs fouth of the Sutledge having by this time fubmitted to Dara Row, opposition was at an end.

It was fucceffively invaded by the armies of Ambajee, Bala Row, and Nana Furkiah, who drove the feiks repeatedly before them.

In 1800 Mr. Thomas himself entered their country at the head of five thousand troops and

* Kussoor, a fort south of the river Sutledge.

fixty pieces of artillery; and though by the inftigation of enemies, who promised them affiftance, the chiefs fouth of the Sutledge and in the Dooab (or country between the two rivers) combined against him, yet he penetrated as far as the Sutledge. During that campaign he never faw more than ten thousand Seiks in one army: he remained in their country fix months, two of which were paffed without competition, and he finally compelled them to purchase peace.

Of late years the rajah of Serinnagur has likewife made fome conquefts in Punjab, chiefly between the Beyah and the Sutledge; and Nizamuddeen Khan, the patan before mentioned, has alfo acquired territory yielding a revenue of three lacks of rupees per annum.

The Seiks, though united, have never made any confiderable oppofition against the force of Zemaun Shah, who has frequently attacked them; but it may be urged, that a great difference is to be expected from a formidable

* The Beyah and the Sutledge.

army of fixty thousand men, led on by the Shah in person, and the princes of the blood, compared with the detached bodies already described. Hence it would appear that this nation is not fo formidable as they have been represented, and in all probability they never will be formidable when opposed by regular troops,

The Seiks are armed with a spear, matchlock, and fcymetar. Their method of fighting, as described by Mr. Thomas, is fingular:. after performing the requifite duties of their religion by ablution and prayer, they comb their hair and beards with peculiar care; then mounting their horfes, ride forth towards the enemy, with whom they engage in a continued skirmish, advancing and retreating until man and horse become equally fatigued. They then draw off to fome distance from the enemy, and meeting with cultivated ground, they permit their horses to graze of their own accord, while they parch a little gram for themselves; and after fatisfying nature by this frugal repast, if the enemy be near, they renew the fkirmishing. Should he have retreated they provide forage

for their cattle, and endeavour to procure a meal for themselves.

Seldom indulging in the comforts of a tent, whilst in the enemy's country, the repaft of a feik cannot be fuppofed to be either fumptuous or elegant. Seated on the ground with a mat fpread before them, a bramin, appointed for the purpose, serves out a portion of food to each individual, the cakes of flour which they cat during the meal ferving them in the room of dishes and plates.*

The feiks are remarkably fond of the flesh

* Does not this circumstance recall our ideas to the situation of Æneas and his companions, shortly after their landing on the coast of Italy? The condition of Æneas exhibits a specimen of primeval simplicity of manners among the Romans, no less singular than the coincidence of cuftoms exifting in Punjab at the present day appears strikingly interesting.

Consumtis hic forte aliis, ut vertere morsus
Exiguam in Cererem penuria adegit edendi,
Et violare manu malisq. audacibus orbem
Fatalis crufti, patulis nec parcere quadris,
Heus! etiam mensas consumimus, inquit Iulus.
Virg. Æn, lib. 7.

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