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MAHRATTA ARMIES.

337

CHAPTER XVII.

Account of a Mahratta Army-Arms-Titles-Magnificence of the Indian Tents-Military Character of the Indians-Rajepoots-Different Orders of Cavalry-Pindarees-Brahmins--Ragobah's Encampment-Particulars of a Brahmin Feast-Pleasures and Amusements in Camp-Conduct of a Family on a marchDancing-girls-Number of Cattle-Extraordinary Anecdote of Ragobah's Elephants-Camels-Mahratta Wealth and StateHermaphrodites-Improvement in Mahratta Tactics-Method of besieging a City-War Rockets.

THE Mahratta armies are generally composed of various nations and religions, who consequently form a very motley collection: they wear no regular uniform, are under very little discipline, and few in the same line either of horse or foot, have similar weapons; some are armed with swords and targets, others with matchlocks or muskets; some carry bows and arrows, others spears, lances, or war rockets; many are expert with the battle-axe, but the sabre is indispensable with all. The men in armour make a strange appearance; a helmet, covering the head, hangs over the ears, and falls on the shoulders; the body is cased with iron network, on a thick quilted vest; their swords are of the finest temper, and the horsemen are very expert at this weapon; they are not so fond of curved blades as the Turks and Persians, but prefer a straight two

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edged sword, and will give a great price for those which they call Alleman, or German, though formerly brought from Damascus.

In the Mahratta army are no regular commanders by seniority or merit; the principal officers are called jemidars some command five thousand horse, others, though equally dignified in title, only five hundred. The Mahratta government, in many instances, resembles the feudal system in Europe: the great chieftains, like the ancient barons, hold their lands by military tenure; they enjoy their estates, on condition of furnishing a stipulated number of knights, squires, and armed-men, in proportion to their territory; and thus in the Mahratta empire, the principal jaghiredars, or nobles, possessed of landed property, when summoned by the peshwa, appear in the field with the number of men expressed in their firmauns, or grants of land; and there they exercise every act of authority, without appeal, more fully than was claimed by the powerful barons in the Germanic bodies, when issuing from their northern forests, and emerging from Gothic barbarism, they marched against the degenerate Romans, and conquering their provinces, established that military system, which, under different modulations, so long prevailed in Europe.

This variety of independent commanders destroys that authority and subordination which prevails in European armies, and may in some measure account for the want of discipline in so large a body; where every man beats a drum, blows a trumpet, or fires his matchlock when he pleases, and frequently when loaded with ball. It was with difficulty the British commanding officer suppressed this dangerous practice

STANDARDS AND ENSIGNS.

339

in Ragobah's army, where it was so prevalent, that it could only be prevented by cutting off the fingers of a delinquent.

The Indian camps display a variety of standards and ensigns; red seems the prevailing colour, but they are seldom decorated with any thing like armorial bearings. The banner which was always carried before Ragobah was small, and swallow-tailed, of crimson and gold tissue, with gold fringes and tassels, called by the Mahrattas zerree puttah: some of the flags are on very high poles, and larger than a ship's ensign: in the European armies, the knights banneret erected their own standard among their followers; the knights bachelors, or simple knights, did not similar distinctions are observed among the Mahrattas; the most considerable chieftains display their own colours, have separate encampments, and their own bazar, or market; in which they collect duties, and make such regulations as they think proper, without control from the sovereign.

The Mahratta cavaliers of distinction frequently ornament their saddles with the bushy tails of the Thibet cows, as also the horse's head. On one side an attendant carries a rich umbrella, called an aftaphgere, generally of velvet, embroidered with gold; on the other, is a man with a large fan, or chouree, formed by the tail of the wild cow from Thibet, covered with long flowing hair, delicately white, and soft as silk: the handle is gold or silver, sometimes studded with jewels. The chouree is useful in keeping off the flies and other insects that swarm in hot climates, and also forms a part of oriental state. The The cruppers, martingales, and bridles of the horses, are covered, ac

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cording to the rank and wealth of the owner, with gold or silver plates, knobs, coins, and a variety of decorations: the tails of the grey horses are frequently dyed of a red and orange colour, and the mains plaited with silk and ribbands, interspersed with silver roses : the camp abounds with farriers, and every thing necessary for their profession.

The generals are likewise distinguished by some title, exclusive of their family name; sometimes given at their birth, but oftener conferred by the prince for gallant behaviour, and a reward of military merit; as the valiant swordsman, the illustrious conqueror, the victorious hero, the ornament of the age, or some other honourable appellation. The women also have names expressive of their personal charms, or their lord's affection; choice of my heart, delight of my eyes, morning star, fragrant rose, coral lips, and a thousand similar fancies, distinguish the favourite ladies in the harem.

In the durbar tent, and at other courts in India, I frequently observed the officers to whom we were introduced, addressed, not by their family name, but by the appellation given them after some signal exploit, or analogous to some perfection in their character. A little history seemed to be attached to each warrior, similar to those we read of in the ancient poets. The sequel of the campaign will evince how well they deserved the encomium, and answered the proclamation of their hyperbolical heralds. I shall only observe at present, that they could not, like Scipio Africanus, Germanicus, and other Roman generals, claim an honorary title from the countries they conquered, or the martial exploits they performed.

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The magnificence of the Indian tents, pavilions, and summinianas, or canopy, far exceeds any thing of the kind in Europe, especially among the Moguls: these accommodations are the more necessary where their women and children accompany them to the field. The Mahrattas seem to prefer their tents to houses, and enjoy more pleasure in a camp than in a city. The martial tribes of Hindoos, and Mahomedans of distinction, in other professions, generally wish to shine in a military capacity. During the commonwealth of Rome, consuls, senators, and priests, headed her legions: the Brahmin sovereigns of Poonah have engrafted the military spirit on the sacerdotal character; Brahmins not only serve in the Hindoo armies, but there are many of that tribe among the sepoys, or native troops, belonging to the English. In general, whether a man is occupied in the political cabinet, or engages in the civil departments of Hindostan, he is not in such estimation as when he annexes to it the character of a soldier.

A military profession seldom interferes with other occupations in the durbar tent, where Rogabah presided as peshwa of the Mahratta empire, business was conducted with the same facility as in the court at Poonah: every evening the principal officers and cabinet ministers attended his levee, and there, as secretary, I often accompanied the English commander: politics, war, and public business, were then discussed, and orders issued for the ensuing day; complaints. were heard, grievances redressed, and the usual justice of oriental governments administered.

The native princes of India considered the Englishtactics as superior to their own; although, from na

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