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58 being that of accursed Delhi, the scene of the martyrdom of one of their Gurus. "Whence," demanded the imperious Nadir Shah, "come those long-haired barbarians who dare to molest me? Destroy them and their homes." "Their homes are the saddles on their horses' backs," was the reply.

The year 1738 saw the beginning of a new series of Mahomedan invasions from the north. Other invaders followed Nadir up to the close of the century, the Afghans being the last, as seven hundred years before they had been the first under Mahmud of Ghuzni, who introduced his Islamic faith into India. Now commenced the long and fierce contest which was to decide whether the Mahomedan or the Sikh was to rule the Punjab. Much confusion reigned there after the invasion of Nadir. A mortal wound had been inflicted on the Moghul Empire, which was now tottering to its fall. The vigilant Sikhs gathered from all quarters, and again resorted to Amritsar, the cradle of their faith. They formed