A History of the Mahrattas v1.c14.57

v1.c14.57

Sivajee’s discipline, which required prompt obedience to superiors in every situation, was particularly strict in his forts. The chief person, or Killidar, in the command of a fortress, was termed Havildar²; and under him there was one or more Surnobuts. In large forts, such as Poorundhur, Raigurh, and Panalla, there was a Surnobut to each face. Every fort had a head clerk, and a commissary of grain and stores; the former, a Bramin, was termed Subnees³; the latter was commonly of the Purvoe cast, and was called Karkanees. Orders in respect to ingress and egress, rounds, watches, and patrols, care of water, grain, stores and ammunition were most minute; and the officer of each department was furnished with distinct rules for his guidance, from which no deviation was permitted. A rigid economy characterized all Sivajee’s instructions regarding expenditure.