A History of the Mahrattas v1.c30.115

v1.c30.115

We have seen that Sivajee had eight officers of state; of them it need only be observed, that the supremacy and gradual usurpation of the Raja’s authority had also superseded that of the other Purdhans, as well as of the Pritee Needhee. Forms of respect instituted with their rank were maintained; but they were only of importance in the state according to the strength and resources of their hereditary Jagheers, and of a superior description of soldiery, who, on pay much inferior to what they might elsewhere have obtained, still adhered to some of them, with that pride of servitude to their chief, which, by its enthusiastic delusion, has caught the fancies of men in all uncivilized countries and dignified military vassalage. Of all these personages, at the period of Mahdoo Rao’s death, Bhowan Rao, the Pritee Needhee, was the most considerable, both for the reasons mentioned and from his warlike character.