”Akalees" by Emily Eden, part of her 'Portraits of the Princes and People of India'. The Akali, also known as the Nihang, are an armed Sikh warrior order originating in India. Traditionally known for their bravery and ruthlessness in the battlefield, the Nihang once formed the irregular guerrilla squads of the armed forces of the Sikh Empire, the Sikh Khalsa Army. Traditional Nihang dress is known as Khalsa Swarupa, which includes edged bracelets of iron round their wrists (jangi kara) and quoits of steel (chakram) tiered in their high turbans (dastar bunga), together with the traditional dagger carried by all Sikhs (kirpan), as well as a bright blue robe. In Punjabi culture blue signifies courage, bravery and patriotism. When fully armed a Nihang will also bear one or two swords (either the curved talwar or the straight khanda) on their right hip, a katar (dagger) on their left hip, a buckler made from buffalo-hide (dhala) on their back, a large chakram around their neck, and an iron chain.
Emily Eden was a novelist, painter, and traveller. Her brother George was General of India (1836-42), which allowed her to travel to India.
