was, from the remotest times, the object of adoration in India. The Dabistán mentions also the _Chandra-bakhtra_, “worshippers of the moon.” Even in our days we find the veneration for the sun, the planets, and fire, openly practised by the Hindus. The worshippers of the latter elements called _Sagníkas_, are very numerous at Benares;[141] they keep many _agni-hotras_, “burnt-offerings,” continually blazing; they kindle, with two pieces of sacred wood, called _sámi_, a fire, never extinguished during their lives, for the performance of solemn sacrifices, their nuptial ceremonies, the obsequies of departed ancestors, and their own funeral pile. There are besides particular worshippers of the wind, water, earth, and the three kingdoms of nature. The latter are called _Tripujas_, “trinitarians.” We find also _Manushya-bhakta_, “worshippers of mankind,” who recognise the being of God in man, and believe nothing to be more perfect than mankind; like _Channing_, a famous American preacher of our days. In short, the worship of personified nature, in its utmost extent, is most evident in what we know of the Vedas, and never ceased to be the general religion of the Hindus. Not without interest will be read in the Dabistán the account of _Nanak_,[142] the founder of the Sikh religion and domination. He is there represented as having been, in a former age, _Janaka_, sovereign of Mithila, and father of Sitá, the wife of Rama. The revolution effected by Nanak, in the middle of the sixteenth century, proves that the Hindus are not quite so unchangeable in religion and customs as is generally believed. It is however to be remarked, that the Panj-ab, the country of the Sikhs, was always considered by the Brahmans as the seat of heterodoxy (probably Buddhism), and blamed for irregularity of manners. Mohsan’s account will be found to add confirmation and a few particulars to that given of Nanak, from the best sources――the generals sir John Malcolm, and John Briggs.