Page:Ranjit Singh (Griffin).djvu/93

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THE STATE OF THE PUNJAB
87

principally filled by Muhammadans. The prize money taken in a campaign was equally shared among the combatants: if a soldier was wounded he invariably received compensation, and if he was killed, his son or nearest male relative was entertained in his place.

The chiefs or barons were known by some cognomen which specially distinguished them; for the Hindu names were few in number and the suffix Singh was universal. Generally this addition was taken from their birthplace, or from a town they had conquered, as Jassa Singh, Ahluwalia; sometimes from a personal peculiarity or attribute, good or bad. As examples of these may be quoted Nidhán Singh, Panjhathah (the five-handed, from his great prowess in battle); Lehna Singh, Chimni (from his short stature); Mohr Singh, Lamba (the tall); Sher Singh, Kamla (the fool); Karm Singh, Nírmala (the spotless), and a hundred more with which Sikh history is full; and of which many have descended to the present day as an honoured part of the family name.