A History of the Mahrattas v1.c18.4

v1.c18.4

Their first endeavours, therefore, were directed to lay in provisions in the forts and to keep the garrisons as complete as possible. The regulation of Sivajee, which gave the troops composing the garrisons a perpetual and hereditary subsistence from lands dependent on the forts, was of infinite importance at this period. Orders were immediately issued to preserve these institutions carefully; and the commanders of the forts, in addition to being warned to lay in as much grain as possible, were particularly enjoined to observe the orders for cutting and stacking the grass of the pasture lands under the protection of the forts, so as to preserve subsistence for the horse, when forage in more accessible parts might not be procurable. A wise precaution of Sivajee, which had already proved useful during the time of Sumbhajee.