In 1812, Sir John Malcolm, a Lieutenant General in the British Army wrote A Sketch of the Sikhs, commonly believed to be the first account of the Sikhs written by a non Sikh. In truth, soldiers, travelers, diplomats, missionaries and scholars had provided accounts for many years before that. Drawing on this difficult to access material, the editors of this volume have compiled a unique source that offers a fascinating insight into the early developments in Sikh history. From the first ever written accounts of the Sikhs by Persian chroniclers of the Moghul Emperor to the travel diary of an Englishwoman, this volume contains material invaluable to those studying the evolution of the Sikh religion as well as to those interested in learning more about this major religion. As a relatively young religion, this volume also provides an unparalleled look into the growth and solidification of religious practice of Sikhs. At a time when the misunderstanding of the Sikh religion and those who practice it has reached new deadly heights, this volume hopes to introduce a wider audience to the roots of its culture.