It does not appear that this remarkable man, who, in intelligence, capacity, and fixed purpose was infinitely the superior of all his predecessors, undertook what he considered to be the mission of his life, in the formation of the scattered Sikh people into a formidable confederacy and the destruction of the Muhammadan power in the Punjab, until he was well advanced in manhood; certainly over thirty years of age. Till then he devoted himself to study and a preparation for his self-imposed duties. At the same time, not neglecting the accomplishments of a well-born youth of his age, he became a keen sportsman and skilled in all feats of arms. When he emerged from seclusion he was at once accepted by the Sikh people as their natural and hereditary leader, and they were quite ready follow him to avenge the murder of his father on their Muhammadan oppressors. Before commencing his work he desired to obtain the blessing of the Hindu goddess Dúrga, whose shrine on the hill of Naina Devi was near his home at Anandpur. After the practice of the necessary preliminary austerities, numerous and long continued, and the presentation of milk, clarified butter and grain, the goddess appeared and demanded a human sacrifice as the price of her protection; and the priests told him that the most acceptable offering would be the head of one of his four sons. The mothers of the children naturally refused to surrender them to such a fate, and Govind Singh then turned to his friends, of whom it is recorded that five offered
