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ON THE SIKHS.
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1469, at a village now known as Dehra', or the village', on the Raví, about thirty kos from Lahore, and is said to have been at first engaged in trade as a dealer in grain, but to have exchanged in mature age worldly pursuits for a life of meditation and religious instruction. The Panjáb was at that time subject to the Patthan Sovereign of Delhi, Behlol Lodi; but then, as now, the lands were distributed chiefly among Hindu chiefs, who united the character of landlord and ruler, as ráyas or rájás, over districts of different dimensions, paying revenue and rendering military service to the Mohammedan governors. One of these ráyas took Nának under his patronage, and enabled him to disseminate his doctrines without hindrance or danger. According to the legendary biography of Nának, he was a great traveller, traversing not only India but visiting Mecca and Medina, working miracles on his journeys and making numerous proselytes. There is probably little truth in his Arabian peregrinations, although it was consistent with his religious character to have spent some time in wandering over Hindustan, and visiting the places held sacred in the estimation of the Hindus. It is most likely, however, that he passed the greater part of his days in the Panjáb, endeavouring to inculcate his views among
Major Leech, J. A. S. B., 1845, p. 394; (but, query) if it is not the same as Kirtipur Dehrá, his burial place. Malcolm, As. Res. XI, 207. Malcolm calls his birth place Talwandi, or Rayapur, on the Beyah.
