Page images
PDF
EPUB

of the jungle hog, which they kill in the chace: this food is allowable by their law. They likewife eat of mutton and fish; but these being deemed unlawful the bramins will not partake, leaving those who chuse to transgress their inftitutes to answer for themselves. In the city or in the field the feiks never smoke tobacco: they are not, however, averfe to drinking fpirituous liquors, in which they fometimes indulge to an immoderate excefs; and they likewife freely take opium, bang, and other intoxicating drugs. In their convivial parties each man is compelled to drink out of his own veffel.

Accustomed from their earliest infancy to a life of hardship and difficulty, the feiks despise the comforts of a tent; in lieu of this, each horfeman is furnithed with two blankets, one for himself and the other for his horfe. These blankets, which are placed beneath the saddle, with a gram bag and heel ropes, comprize, in time of war, the baggage of a feik. Their cooking utenfils are carried on tattoos. Confidering this mode of life, and the extraordinary rapidity of their movements, it cannot be

matter of wonder if they perform marches, which, to those who are only accustomed to European warfare, muft appear almost incredible.

The Seiks, among other cuftoms fingular in their nature, never fuffer their hair or beards to be cut: consequently, when mounted on horseback, their black flowing locks and halfnaked bodies, which are formed in the ftouteft and most athletic mould, the glittering of their arms, and the fize and fpeed of their horfes, render their appearance impofing and formidable, and fuperior to most of the cavalry of Hindooftan.

In the use of their arms, efpecially the matchlock and fabre, they are uncommonly expert; fome ufe bows and arrows. In addition to the articles of drefs which have been defcribed in recent publications* of the times, Mr. Thomas mentions that the arms and wrifts of the Seiks are decorated with bangles of gold, filver, brass, and iron, according to the circum

*Consult the History of Shah Aulum.

ftances of the wearers; but among the chiefs of the respective tribes, the horse-furniture, in which they take the greatest pride (and which, with the exception of the inlaying of their fire-arms, is their luxury), is uncommonly fplendid; for, though a feik will fcruple to expend the most trifling fum on his food or clothing, he will fpare no expence in endeavouring to excel his comrades in the furniture of his horse, and in the richness and brightnefs of his armour; a circumftance which appears to bear no inconsiderable resemblance to the customs of the ancient Spartans.*

[ocr errors]

Confiderable fimilarity in their general cuftoms may be traced with thofe of the Jauts. Though these in some districts apparently vary, the difference is not material; and their permitting an interchange of marriages with the Jauts of the Dooab and Harrianah, amounts almost to a conclufive proof of their affinity of origin.

The Seiks allow foreigners of every defcrip❤ tion to join their standard, to fit in their com* See Cornelius Nepos, and Pausanias.

[ocr errors]

pany, and to shave their beards; but, excepting in the inftance of the Jauts, they will not consent to intermarriages; nor will they eat or drink from the hands of an alien, except he be a bramin, and for this caft they always profefs the highest veneration.

If, indeed, fome regulations which are in their nature purely military, and which were introduced by their founder Nanick, be excepted, it will be found that the Seiks are neither more or less than Jauts in their primitive ftate.

Thus far, fays Mr. Thomas, we have seen the fair fide of the picture; let us now confider the reverfe.-The Seiks are falfe, fanguinary, and faithlefs; they are addicted to plunder, and the acquirement of wealth by any means, however nefarious. Inftances have occurred of a child's arm being raised against his parent, and of brothers deftroying each

other.

Women amongst them are held in little eftimation, and though ill treated by their

husbands, and prohibited from accompanying them in their wars, thefe unhappy females nevertheless attend to their domeftic concerns with a diligence and fedulousness deferving of a better fate.

Instances, indeed, have not unfrequently occurred, in which they have actually taken up arms to defend their habitations from the defultory attacks of the enemy, and throughout the conteft behaved themfelves with an intrepidity of spirit highly praiseworthy.

In the feik army, the modes of payment are various but the most common is at the time of harvest, when every foldier receives the amount of his pay in grain and other articles, the produce of the country; to some is given money in fmall fums, and to others lands are allotted for their maintenance. Three-fifths of the horses of the Punjab are the property of the different chieftains: the remainder belong to the peafantry who have become fettlers.

Afeik foldier has also his portion of the plunder acquired in the course of a campaign: this is fet afide as a reward for his fervices; and

H

« PreviousContinue »