The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c15.121

v1.c15.121

throughout the ages by invading warlike races. Except for the Gurkha mountaineers of Nepāl, the best soldiers of the Indian army are drawn from this region, from the Rājputs, the Sikhs, the Punjābi Musalmāns, the Dogrā mountaineers north of the Punjab, and the Pathān mountaineers west of the Punjab. The provinces along this frontier, and the Afghān land immediately beyond it, are the one region in all India from which, under some ambitious lead, the attempt might be made to establish a fresh imperial rule by the overthrow of the British Raj. Such is the teaching of history, and such the obvious fate of the less warlike peoples of India, should the power of Britain be broken either by warfare on the spot, or by the defeat of our navy. Beyond the north-west frontier, moreover, in the remoter distance, are the continental powers of Europe.