A History of the Mahrattas v1.c17.60

v1.c17.60

The system which Sivajee introduced soon fell into decay, wherever the efficiency of the establishments depended upon the vigilance or care of the executive authority. This was first perceivable in the army, where the discipline and strict orders of Sivajee were neglected. When the horse took the field, stragglers were allowed to join, plunder was secreted, women followers who had been prohibited on pain of death, were not only permitted, but women were brought off from the enemy’s country as an established article of plunder and either retained as concubines, or sold as slaves.