DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15172#0187
152
CITY OF UMRITSIR.
CHAP. VI.
Acalis or Nihungs are a Wrong-headed set of fana-
tics, not to be trusted. In reply to the offering,
the priest sent us some sugar. The Acalis are
clothed in turbans of blue cloth, which run into a
peak : on this they carry several round pieces of
iron, weapons of defence, which are used like the
quoit. These bigots are constantly molesting the
community by abuse and insult, or even violence ;
a week does not pass in the Punjab without a life
being lost: but Runjeet suppresses their excesses
with a firm and determined hand, though they form
a portion of the establishment in a religion of which
he himself is a strict observer. He has attached
some of the greatest offenders to his battalions,
and banished others. Our conductor, Desa Sing
Majeetia, father of our Mihmandar, a Seik of the
confederacy, and a kind old man, was very solicit-
ous about our safety, and led us by the hand,
which he grasped firmly, through the assembled
crowd. From the temple we made the tour of
Umritsir, which is a larger city than Lahore. This
place is the great emporium of commerce between
India and Cabool. The traders are chiefly Hindoos,
before whose door one wonders at the utility of large
blocks of red rock-salt being placed, till informed
that they are for the use of the sacred city cows,
who lick and relish them. In our way home we
visited the Rambagh, the favourite residence of the
Maharaja when at Umritsir. His passion for mili-
tary works also shows itself here, and he has
surrounded a pleasure-garden by a massy mound of
mud, which he is now strengthening by a ditch.
CITY OF UMRITSIR.
CHAP. VI.
Acalis or Nihungs are a Wrong-headed set of fana-
tics, not to be trusted. In reply to the offering,
the priest sent us some sugar. The Acalis are
clothed in turbans of blue cloth, which run into a
peak : on this they carry several round pieces of
iron, weapons of defence, which are used like the
quoit. These bigots are constantly molesting the
community by abuse and insult, or even violence ;
a week does not pass in the Punjab without a life
being lost: but Runjeet suppresses their excesses
with a firm and determined hand, though they form
a portion of the establishment in a religion of which
he himself is a strict observer. He has attached
some of the greatest offenders to his battalions,
and banished others. Our conductor, Desa Sing
Majeetia, father of our Mihmandar, a Seik of the
confederacy, and a kind old man, was very solicit-
ous about our safety, and led us by the hand,
which he grasped firmly, through the assembled
crowd. From the temple we made the tour of
Umritsir, which is a larger city than Lahore. This
place is the great emporium of commerce between
India and Cabool. The traders are chiefly Hindoos,
before whose door one wonders at the utility of large
blocks of red rock-salt being placed, till informed
that they are for the use of the sacred city cows,
who lick and relish them. In our way home we
visited the Rambagh, the favourite residence of the
Maharaja when at Umritsir. His passion for mili-
tary works also shows itself here, and he has
surrounded a pleasure-garden by a massy mound of
mud, which he is now strengthening by a ditch.