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228 During the last decade the Sikh population has become more numerous—by 13 per cent; and as the result of greater numbers of them being now enlisted, there has been an increase of those called Govindi Sikhs who have taken the pahal. They are held to make the best soldiers, the stern religious discipline enjoined by Govind engendering self-command, self-respect, and obligation to duty unto death through the talismanic influence of the Khalsa. When such as have not taken the pahal enlist, they generally do so at the hand of the Granthi or Scripture reader attached to every regiment in which Sikhs are in any numbers, and supported by them. They are the home missionaries of the Durbar Sahib, the headquarters church at Amritsar, who conduct religious services, read out the precepts of the 'Granth,' collect money for the income of the church, and keep alive the Sikh national and religious sentiment.

There was a remarkable demonstration of this sentiment at the great Durbar