A History of the Mahrattas v1.c14.35

v1.c14.35

The Mahratta horsemen are commonly dressed in a pair of tight breeches covering the knee, a turban which many of them fasten by passing a fold of it under the chin, a frock of quilted cotton, and a cloth round the waist, with which they generally gird on their swords in preference to securing them with their belts.¹ The horseman is armed with a sword and shield; a proportion in each body carry matchlocks, but the great national weapon is the spear, in the use of which, and the management of their horses, they evince both grace and dexterity.² The spearmen have generally a sword, and sometimes a shield; but the latter is unwieldy, and only carried in case the spear should be broken.³