Page:The Sikhs (Gordon).djvu/99

Rh taught them the necessity of some measure of union, so these various parties were later on leagued together in twelve confederacies or misls, signifying similitude, to imply equality whatever their strength, each being under a chief sardar. Most of these misls were called after the villages of their founders, a few being given personal and other names connected with their origin. Every sardar was personally known by the name of his native village. None were admitted as members of these misls, which constituted the Khalsa or governing body, unless active horsemen and proficient in arms. After a successful expedition the boldest would ride far and wide to mark the villages they annexed by throwing into them some article to prove the identity of the captor. It was the aim of the daring Jat youths to qualify for admission to a misl, and considered by them a religious honour to receive the pahal of the Singhs at the hands of a renowned leader. The path to eminence was then open to them.