A History of the Mahrattas v1.c30.136

v1.c30.136

The ordinary army of the Peishwa, without including the troops of Bhonslay, Gaekwar, Sindia, or Holkar, amounted to fifty thousand good horse. Neither his infantry nor artillery were considerable; and, after providing for his garrisons, the ordinary number in the time of Mahdoo Rao was about ten thousand, of whom one third were Arabs, and the greater part Mahomedans. It was usual, however, to entertain large bodies of infantry when the Peishwa took the field, but they were always discharged on returning to Poona. The Hetkurees, or Concan infantry, are said to have been preferred to the Mawulees, perhaps on account of the attachment of the latter to the house of Sivajee.¹