Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c15.s2.5

v1.c15.s2.5

For the next two years the Panjāb enjoyed peace from the side of Afghanistan; but its internal condition was no more tranquil or happy than before. The *subahdār* made frequent tours throughout his charge to suppress refractory local chieftains and predatory villagers. The Sikhs were already becoming a thorn in the sides of the established Government. The disintegration of imperial authority presented a golden opportunity to these born rebels. The martial religion of Guru Govind had knit the Sikhs together into organised bands of soldiers, with perfect brotherhood in their ranks and freedom from the distinctions of caste, social gradation, and food which embarrass and divide the Hindus. They were mostly recruited from the sturdy race of Jat peasantry, hardy, strong-limbed, prolific "like ants and locusts," and accustomed to regard highway robbery as a hereditary and honourable profession. The Panjāb breeds excellent horses, for superior to the dwarfish mares ridden by the Marāthas. Each Sikh marauder was "well mounted and armed with a spear, sword and good matchlock," and they acted in bands under petty chieftains of their own, who had the wisdom to combine with others in the pursuit of the same trade. "The Sikh Uhlan's endurance and rapidity of movement were quite commensurate with his rapacity, enabling him to baffle, if not defy, superior numbers . . . . At a pinch, he could march some twenty or thirty miles a day on no better fare than a little parched gram washed down with pure cold water. A tent he despised, baggage in the ordinary sense of the word he had none . . . Besides his weapons, his whole kit consisted of horse-gear, a few of the simplest cooking utensils, and two blankets, one for himself, and another for his faithful steed . . . . Although his tactics mainly resolved themselves into a prolonged series of skirmishes conducted somewhat after the Parthian fashion, yet in the strife of men contending hand to hand, he was terrible, though helpless against good artillery.” [G. R. C. Williams in *Calcutta Review*, No. 119 (1875.)] In this last respect, as well as in the excellent size breed and fleetness of their horses and their universal use of fire arms, the Sikhs far surpassed the Marāthas as fighters.